Case Study Sparq Solutions

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Case Study Sparq Solutions CASE STUDY SPARQ SOLUTIONS Technology: Windows® 7 and Microsoft® Office® Managed 2010, from older operating systems Windows 7 and Office suites. The aim of the Productivity Managed Productivity Program is to Microsoft Office 2010 realise the productivity benefits enabled Program Returns by Windows 7 and Office 2010. $3.9m a Year A preliminary business case suggested that this project would Background: deliver more than $1.5 million in productivity benefits annually. SPARQ Solutions provides Information and Communications Technology (ICT) The Windows 7 and Office 2010 services to Queensland’s electricity upgrade program scoped to replace suppliers, Energex and Ergon Energy. and upgrade the technology, did not include an instructor-led classroom SPARQ partners closely with Energex training program but relied upon and Ergon Energy to achieve their users maintaining their exisiting business goals by developing ICT level of competency through local strategies that enable business change support groups and self-help. and growth. Being jointly owned by Energex and Ergon Energy enables This resulted in the a disconnect SPARQ to provide value for money between the migration activity and the to all Queenslanders through provision of training support to users, cost-savings, economies of scale and which meant that the productivity value-added solutions and services. benefits would not be realised, and in fact productivity would be reduced With headquarters in Brisbane, and if users were less effective in the offices in Rockhampton, Townsville, new operating environment. Mackay, Maryborough, Cairns and Toowoomba, SPARQ employs The Solution: approximately 500 staff and contractors who are highly skilled in To develop an enterprise-wide program a range of ICT business applications of user education and training support, and support services, and who SPARQ Solutions’ Applications Capability support more than 8,000 users. Manager Col Hanley drew on the longstanding business relationship The Challenge: between SPARQ Solutions and Data#3. More than 8,000 users across Queensland were migrated to CASE STUDY SPARQ SOLUTIONS “Using the shortcuts would Data#3 works with SPARQ Solutions service desk support load for Office save approximately 30 across many areas including strategic 2010 related queries. A desktop icon minutes per day as I work consulting, managed services, provides direct access to the SharePoint primarily from Outlook. maintenance, product and licensing site where users can access a variety I like to keep up-to-date solutions. The depth of this relationship of types of information. Users reported with shortcuts and I am means that Data#3 has a detailed that previously they did not know they starting to use the Word understanding of SPARQ Solutions’ had access to these resources, and shortcuts but the most business, and those of its clients would instead contact the service desk timesaving shortcuts for Energex and Ergon Energy. This rich as a first port of call for information. me would be the Outlook base of knowledge allowed Data#3 to ones. At our next monthly accommodate the different business The Outcome: meeting I propose to go practices of Energex and Ergon Energy A cost saving analysis based on a through the shortcuts in a highly tailored program that met 1% productivity improvement for all with the combined admin the needs of both organisations. users suggests a productivity boost team (14 members). worth approximately $3.9 million per If they all adopt them Working collaboratively, the annum. This is more than twice the that is a considerable Applications Capability team and # estimate from the initial business case, amount of time saved in Data 3 consultants developed a and provides the validation needed our small group alone.” holistic solution to be rolled out across a six month period, and which: to extend the program to continue realising benefits across the user base. Rhonda Douglas, • Directly involved ‘power users’ Admin Team Leader Central from different parts of the Administration Services, businesses – including finance, Ergon Energy “I have found that the articles ease legal and trading groups – to the frustration that has come with understand their business needs the upgrade to 2010. Shortcuts that and processes, and any current I was familiar with in 2003 weren’t productivity issues they faced working in 2010 or I simply couldn’t • Delivered in-depth self-help find what I was looking for by flicking resources for users through a through the menu options. I have SharePoint portal – including found the shortcuts sent out to us to knowledge base articles that provide be a relief, and I know that I share any tips and tricks for productivity, and with my team that may not have seen which were developed out of the the article to make our work more consultation with power users. streamlined and efficient.” A communications program through Camilla Pettersson company newsletters and email updates Works Program Analyst made users aware of the self-help Operations, Ergon Energy tools available to them, reducing the © Copyright Data#3 Limited 2013 CASE STUDY SPARQ SOLUTIONS Contact Details: www.data3.com.au Next Steps: “I am still using the early adopter 1300 23 28 23 version of the 2010 Office suite at The program has been extended for six the moment. It is a great support Follow Us: months, which will ensure that further mechanism to have. I have made twitter.com/Data3Limited user groups receive the benefits of a note of all the helpful hints facebook.com/Data3Limited the program to ease their transition and self-help documents on the to the new operating environment. In bulletin board and have saved all particular, the power user consulting, the information into a folder for instructor-led training, and desk-side myself for ease of access if anyone coaching and communications program comes to me for assistance.” will be rolled out to users in regional areas throughout Queensland. Shauna Kennedy, Generator Resource Scheduler, Energex The number of knowledge base articles will continue to increase, as new articles are developed following further power user interviews and training of migrated users. Col Hanley suggests that a further 25 to 30 articles will be developed during the coming six months. SPARQ Solutions is also exploring the most appropriate learning management platform to provide additional support to Energex and Ergon Energy users. “I am really looking forward to running the program really hard across the next six months,” says Col Hanley. “We are very pleased with the outcomes to date, and the continued investment is justified as we can demonstrate the value realised for the organisations.” © Copyright Data#3 Limited 2013.
Recommended publications
  • Energy 2020 (Report 11: 2020–21)
    FINANCIAL AUDIT REPORT 4 February 2021 Energy 2020 Report 11: 2020–21 • Queensland • • Audit Office Better public services As the independent auditor of the Queensland public sector, including local governments, the Queensland Audit Office: • provides professional audit services, which include our audit opinions on the accuracy and reliability of the financial statements of public sector entities • provides entities with insights on their financial performance, risk, and internal controls; and on the efficiency, effectiveness, and economy of public service delivery • produces reports to parliament on the results of our audit work, and on our insights, advice, and recommendations for improvement • conducts investigations into claims of financial waste and mismanagement raised by elected members, state and local government employees, and the public • shares wider learnings and best practice from our work with state and local government entities, our professional networks, industry, and peers. We conduct all our audits and reports to parliament under the Auditor-General Act 2009 (the Act). Our work complies with the Auditor-General Auditing Standards and the Australian standards relevant to assurance engagements. • Financial audit reports summarise the results of our audits of over 400 state and local government entities. • Performance audit reports cover our evaluation of some, or all, of the entities’ efficiency, effectiveness, and economy in providing public services. Depending on the level of assurance we can provide, these reports may also take the form of: • Audit insights, which provide some evaluation and share our insights or learnings from our audit work across government • Audit briefs, which set out key facts, involve some evaluation, and may include findings and recommendations • Audit overviews, which help clients and stakeholders understand complex issues and subjects.
    [Show full text]
  • Demand Management Plan 2021-22
    Demand Management Plan April 2021 Demand Management Plan 2021-22 Contents Message from our Executive 3 About us 4 Introduction 4 Our network 4 Our core service area 5 Demand management 6 What is it? 6 Customers participating in our DM Program 8 Challenges and opportunities shaping our strategies and plan 9 Case study: The challenges caused by minimum demand 12 Our strategy and plan 14 Overview 14 Our principles 14 Case study: Electric vehicles - Discovering customer charging and energy use 15 Our strategies and initiatives 16 Case study: New load control tariffs deliver customer and network benefits 17 Our program 18 DM Program budget and targets for 2021-22 20 Covid-19 impacts 20 Energex forecast expenditure and targets 20 Ergon Energy Network forecast expenditure and targets 20 2 Demand Management Plan 2021-22 Message from our Executive We are experiencing (DER) such as rooftop solar PV This Plan sets out our five-year unprecedented rates of customers and Electric Vehicles (EVs). This strategy for our DM program connecting small scale renewables will support greater DER on during this time of transformation. such as rooftop solar photovoltaic our network, new technologies Our Plan is only as strong as our (PV) systems, along with such as batteries and EVs and partnerships with our customers, large scale renewables (solar access to new markets that offer DM providers and other industry farms and wind farms) to our incentives to customers for their partners. We therefore look network. It’s not slowing down; services. Dynamic customer forward to continuing to work if anything, COVID-19 and the connections for DER will also with our existing and new conditions of the past year have support distribution networks customers during 2021-22 and only accelerated the take up of in providing safe and secure beyond; as we energise our renewables across the network.
    [Show full text]
  • Detailed Plan of Development December 2016
    Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning Yeerongpilly Transit Oriented Development Detailed Plan of Development December 2016 Yeerongpilly TOD Detailed Plan of Development 1 © State of Queensland, December 2016. Published by the Department Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, 1 William Street, Brisbane Qld 4000, Australia Licence: This work is licensed under the Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 Australia licence. To view a copy of the licence, visit www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Enquiries about this licence or any copyright issues can be directed to the department by email to [email protected] or in writing to PO Box 15009, City East, Qld 4002. Attribution: The State of Queensland, Department Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning. The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of information. However, copyright protects this publication. The State of Queensland has no objection to this material being reproduced, made available online or electronically but only if it is recognised as the owner of the copyright and this material remains unaltered. Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in preparing this publication, the State of Queensland accepts no responsibility for decisions or actions taken as a result of any data, information, statement or advice, expressed or implied, contained within. To the best of our knowledge, the content was correct at the time of publishing. An electronic copy of this report is available on the Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning’s website at www.dilgp.qld.gov.au. Contents PART A: Introduction and background PART B: Detailed Plan of Development Figures 1.
    [Show full text]
  • WORKING with ENERGEX Now Locate Faults in the Network Faster Than Ever Before Through Satellite Navigation, Tracking and Dispatch
    a number of ENERGEX’s host systems. ENERGEX crews WORKING WITH ENERGEX now locate faults in the network faster than ever before through satellite navigation, tracking and dispatch. The FFA In an Australian first, ENERGEX crews are now computer system provides field crews with unprecedented access to electronic information about outages and using high-tech mobile-linked laptop computer customer premises from their vehicle. The reduction in systems in maintenance vehicles to help them phone calls, travel time and paper will help increase restore power faster after outages. An industry efficiency significantly during storms and other peak periods. Millions of people across more than 25,000 team made up of Integral, ENERGEX, SPARQ, square kilometres throughout South East Queensland LiTMUS Group, MDSI – Advantex (now Ventyx) and northern New South Wales now benefit from the and led by prime contractor TUSC (now Ericsson), new system that provides faster response times and more accurate information to field crews. was the key to the success of this project. INTEGRAL VALUE ADD Based in South East Queensland, ENERGEX has been providing electricity to Queenslanders for more than Integral’s role in this project was to integrate the Ventyx 100 years. ENERGEX manages sophisticated energy Service Suite FFA technology with the existing ENERGEX distribution networks and delivers world-class energy host systems. products, services and expertise to one of Australia’s fastest growing communities. “This was a particularly rewarding project for Integral as it extensively used our integration methodologies, THE CHALLENGE intellectual property and best practice based ENERGEX had a low level automation system in place approaches, to build a robust and scalable SOA for its field workers that was not handling the increased (Service Orientated Architecture) based solution.
    [Show full text]
  • Performance and Plans for the Energex Network
    Performance and plans for the Energex Network A summary of our Distribution Annual Planning Report 2019-20 to 2023-24 for our customers, communities and other stakeholders Purpose Energex’s Distribution Annual 2023-24. It provides insights benefit from significant Planning Report explains how into the key challenges we face electricity supply capability we are continuing to safely and our responses to them, or demand side management and efficiently manage the highlighting the areas where we and non-network initiatives electricity distribution network are seeking to work closely with • identify locations where in South East Queensland. our customers, the community major industrial loads would and different industry partners. This summary outlines the be best located. content in our planning report It provides information to assist This information is also with links to specific chapters interested parties to: supported by our online you can refer to for more • understand how the interactive map of the information. electricity network works electricity network and The full report details the • provide input to the future information provided in our network’s performance in 2018- development of the network Demand Management Plan and Demand Side Engagement 19 and our plans for 2019-20 to • identify locations that would Strategy. Contents Purpose 2 Message from our Executive 3 Our network 4 Our service area 4 What is shaping our plans? 5 Our engagement program 5 Safety first – a no compromise approach 6 Making electricity more affordable 7
    [Show full text]
  • Fees & Charges Additional
    ADDITIONAL FEES & CHARGES BEFORE & AFTER JULY 2019 A REPORT PRODUCED BY ALVISS CONSULTING FOR THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY VICTORIA DECEMBER 2019 For further information regarding this report, contact: Gavin Dufty Manager, Social Policy Unit St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria Phone: 03 9895 5816 or 0439 357 129 This report has been produced by: St Vincent de Paul Society Alviss Consulting www.vinnies.org.au/energy www.alvissconsulting.com 1. About this project This project has been undertaken to document and analyse the application of fees and charges to electricity retail contracts for residential consumers in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia before and after the introduction of the Victorian Default Offer (in Victoria) and the Default Market Offer (in other states) on 1 July 2019. Additional fees and charges applied to energy contracts can cause consumer detriment for two reasons: Firstly, additional fees and charges increase product complexity and the chance of consumers making poor decisions. Energy contracts are already complex products as consumers must understand their usage and needs when comparing offers. Additional fees and charges add another layer of complexity to this process and as some fees are linked to consumer behaviour or future decisions (e.g. late payment fees and early termination fees) it can be almost impossible to determine what offers are most suitable in the long run. Secondly, significant additional fees and charges can make up a substantial proportion of many households’ energy costs, particularly for low consumption households. This is problematic in a reform environment based on demand side participation where consumers are expected to take greater responsibility to reduce their energy costs.
    [Show full text]
  • Queensland Electricty Metering Manual
    Part of Energy Queensland Queensland Electricity Metering Manual Part of Energy Queensland THIS PAGE HAS BEEN DELIBERATELY LEFT BLANK Check this is the latest version before use. EX Manual 01812 Ver 3 EE NA000403R510 Ver 3 Joint document between Energex and Ergon Energy Energex Limited ABN 40 078 849 055 Ergon Energy Corporation Limited ABN 50 087 646 062 Queensland Electricity Metering Manual Part of Energy Queensland Table of Contents Foreword....................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Scope...................................................................................................2 Definitions, Abbreviations and Acronyms ..............................................................2 References.................................................................................................................2 1. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ..............................................................................3 1.1. Use of this document...........................................................................................3 1.2. Scope ..................................................................................................................3 1.3. Failure to comply with this manual.......................................................................3 1.4. Exceptional Circumstances..................................................................................3 1.5. Advice for Whole and CT Metering ......................................................................4
    [Show full text]
  • Qgc.Com.Au Email: [email protected]
    QUEENSLAND GAS COMPANY LIMITED 30 Herschel Street, Brisbane QLD 4000 GPO Box 3107, Brisbane QLD 4001 Tel: (61) 7 3020 9000 Fax: (61) 7 3012 8411 Website: www.qgc.com.au Email: [email protected] 17 October 2008 Companies Announcement Officer Australian Securities Exchange Exchange Centre 20 Bridge Street SYDNEY NSW To whom it may concern 2008 ANNUAL REPORT Queensland Gas Company Limited is pleased to provide its 2008 Annual Report after an exciting year of growth and transformation for the company. The Annual Report contains a letter from the chairman of Queensland Gas Company Limited, Mr Robert Bryan, in which he foreshadows his upcoming resignation. Yours faithfully Mark Anning Company Secretary QUEE QUEENSLAND GAS COMPANY QUEENSLAND GAS COMPANY TransformaTion ANNUAL REPORT 2008 ns ANNUAL REPORT 2008 L an D G AS C om P an Y L imi TED ANNUAL REPORT 2008 REPORT ANNUAL QGC is leading a transformation of the Australian energy sector: cleaner, greener and more secure Contents Investor backs a winner 1 Directors’ report 62 Company profile 2 Auditor’s independence declaration 76 Financial year highlights 4 Income statements 77 Letter from the Chairman 7 Balance sheets 78 Managing Director’s report 10 Statements of changes in equity 79 Gas production, infrastructure and sales 15 Cashflow statements 80 Exploration and reserves 21 Notes to the financial statements 81 Electricity 27 Directors’ declaration 129 Water 31 Independent audit report 130 Queensland Curtis LNG Project 35 Shareholder information 132 People and safety 41 Corporate governance statement 134 Sustainability 45 Definitions and glossary 152 Financial performance 50 Corporate directory 154 Acquisitions 52 Board of Directors 56 Senior management 58 Investor backs a winner To retired school principal Tom Abraham, a decision in 2001 to take a punt on shares in a little-known gas QGC 2008 explorer has since proven as lucky as picking the winner ANNUAL of the Melbourne Cup.
    [Show full text]
  • ENERGEX Inverter Energy Systems Connecting Your Inverter Energy System to the ENERGEX Network
    ENERGEX Inverter Energy Systems Connecting Your Inverter Energy System to the ENERGEX Network 8181 13.08.2010 ENERGEX Limited trading as ENERGEX ABN: 40 078 849 055 http://www.energex.com.au Requests and inquiries concerning this document should be addressed to: Customer Information and Agreements Officer ENERGEX GPO Box 1461 BRISBANE QLD 4001 Table of Contents GENERAL INFORMATION ......................................................................................................................... 1 ROLES OF YOUR ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTOR, ELECTRICITY RETAILER & IES INSTALLER ........ 1 The role of your Electricity Distributor (ENERGEX) ................................................................. 1 The role of your Electricity Retailer .......................................................................................... 1 The role of your IES Installer.................................................................................................... 1 NETWORK CONNECTION SCHEMES FOR YOUR IES............................................................................ 2 Gross Energy Scheme .............................................................................................................2 Net Energy Scheme ................................................................................................................. 2 Net Energy Scheme SBS......................................................................................................... 2 IES CONNECTION PROCESS...................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • An Energy Smart Plan
    An EnergySmart Plan Positioning Queensland for a Diversified Energy Future 2010 – 2050 This reporT has been prepared by A QueenslAnd government initiAtive DECEMBER 2010 Working group Chair Ross Paul, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, Bakers Investment Group Members Professor Arun Sharma, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation), Queensland University of Technology Michael Rayner, Principal Director, Cox Rayner Architects Professor Paul Meredith, School of Physical Sciences, The University of Queensland Dr Paul Simshauser, Chief Economist and Group Head of Corporate Affairs , AGL Peta Ashworth, Group Leader - Science and Society, CSIRO Smart State Council The Smart State Council was established in June 2005. It is a central advisory body that provides high level independent advice to the Queensland Government to help position Queensland as the Smart State. Since the launch of toward Q2: tomorrow’s Queensland in September 2008, the Council also provides advice on innovative measures to assist Queensland to meet the Q2 ambitions and targets. The Smart State Council is chaired by the Premier of Queensland and comprises Government Ministers, the Queensland Chief Scientist and representatives from Queensland’s business, community and research sectors. This paper was prepared by a working group of the Council’s Standing Committee. The views expressed in this paper are those of the group and do not represent Queensland Government policy. 2 This document does not represent Queensland Government policy A QueenslAnd government initiAtive December 2010 Dear Premier Please find attached the Smart State Council working group report, An EnergySmart Plan: Positioning Queensland for a Diversified Energy Future 2010-2050. Creating a clear pathway to a cleaner energy future will be among this government’s greatest legacies for our children and grandchildren.
    [Show full text]
  • Bill Williams CV 2020
    Bill Williams CV www.oakleygreenwood.com.au Bachelor of Engineering MBA BILL WILLIAMS PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT PRIOR PROFESSIONAL HISTORY 2020 - Principal Consultant, Oakley Greenwood 2009 - 2020 Independent Consultant 2008 - 2009 CEO of Listed Oil and Gas Company Blue Energy 2007 CEO of ERM Gas 2003 - 2006 Commercial Executive with QGC 2001 - 2003 Energy Trading Executive with Energex 1997 - 2000 Business Development Executive with Duke Energy and PG&E OVERVIEW Bill is an experienced Commercial/Business Development executive who has worked across the energy sector including oil & gas, gas infrastructure, electricity infrastructure and energy trading and prior to that developing and executing world scale projects in the resources sector. Bill’s 30 + years experience includes: growing energy and resources businesses across Australia from start-ups, to SMEs, corporates and multinationals; listed and unlisted; developing energy projects from concept to execution for Oil Search, Duke Energy, PG&E, Energex and Enbridge; managing small oil and gas companies through the early ‘breakthrough’ commercial period in QGC, Buru Energy, Blue Energy and ERM Gas; and developing major resource projects from concept to execution in Rio Tinto; Expertise Development of all forms of energy infrastructure including power stations and gas pipelines. Sales and purchases of all types of energy. Negotiation and drafting of all types of contract arrangements used in the energy sector: Wholesale Electricity – PPAs, Fuel Agreements, Swaps and other hedging instruments; Wholesale Gas – GSAs, GTAs and Tolling Agreements; 1 Bill Williams CV www.oakleygreenwood.com.au Oil and Gas Upstream – Farmin/out Agreements and Joint Venture Agreements; Asset development - EPC, EPCM, O&M, JV and Shareholder Agreements; and Funding – equity, debt, hybrid arrangements and security structuring.
    [Show full text]
  • LIVING OUR VALUES: ENERGEX 2009/10 Annual Report And
    We aim to live our corporate values every day. Our values express who we are and all that They underpin everything we do as a company we aspire to be. They are the foundation and articulate what we see as most important. for our reputation and success. PUT DELIVER IMPRESS SAFETY BALANCED OUR FIRST RESULTS CUSTOMERS We are committed We are passionate and disciplined Servicing our customers to achieving an about achieving our targets to ensure a injury free workplace to deliver sustainable performance positive experience RESPECT BE SET & SUPPORT A TEAM A GREAT EACH OTHER PLAYER EXAMPLE We value each We operate as a team We create an environment other’s views to achieve and leverage and learn that encourages people to grow, success together from each other achieve goals and lead the way Powering Lifestyles Forever – articulates our vision, our people and technical capabilities to deliver network reinforces our strategic direction and provides performance that achieves legislated Minimum Service a reference to guide both strategic planning and Standards (MSS), Guaranteed Service Levels (GSLs), day-to-day business operations. The purpose supports and associated network standards. our transition to becoming a customer-centric and sustainable business that delivers sustainable energy Linked with this goal is a focus on ‘lifestyles’ which solutions and balanced commercial outcomes. refl ects our growing need to understand the changing lifestyle, business and economic preferences of our Our purpose represents the three core areas upon customers and the implications this has for the way which we must focus to deliver our vision. A focus on in which we deliver power.
    [Show full text]