Our Resource & Skills Capability

Ridgeline operates a virtual workforce consisting of skilled staff located across Central & Eastern Australia including Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Ridgeline’s approach to meeting client requirements and expectations is ensuring that the most appropriate resource is made available for each engagement, based upon skills and other project requirements.

Whilst Ridgeline is relatively small in comparison to the larger global organisations, our experience and flexibility enable a more responsive approach to delivering business solutions.

The following provides an outline of our core capabilities:

Applications Architecture & Development

Ridgeline Senior Development Consultants provide best practice advice for Enterprise Application development architectures to support business processes.

Our Developers have deep expertise in the .NET environment. As a matter of course, all our Developers are expected to complete the Microsoft Certified System Developer (MCSD) training to complement their extensive field experience helping customers strategise, architect, and implement applications using the .NET Framework.

Our Senior Consultants have a strong understanding of application design and development, plus experience and a strong desire to work with customers. Core activities in this area include team leader, designing and implementing systems based on the Microsoft suite of products and architectures.

Technology Summary

Service Factory
Microsoft .NET
Application development languages (Visual Basic, Visual C++, Visual J++, Visual InterDev)
Internet Development (HTML, Active Server Pages, IIS, Commerce Server)
G2G / G2B enablers (XML, BizTalk, MIIS, ADAM)
Data access (ActiveX Data Objects, SQL Server)

Services provided:

Development of Standards for Application architecture
Leading team members and third parties in client organisations in the integration of technological methodologies and components of Application development projects
Thought Leadership and emerging technology knowledge
Development of Vision Statements
Application architecture diagrams and documentation
Integration with existing frameworks
Enterprise Application Architecture Consulting (TOGAF & Zachman Principles)
Experience collecting customer business requirements, developing, customising and implementing software solutions
Host integration (Network, Microsoft Mobile Messaging)
Integration with and migration from other development platforms

Infrastructure Architecture

Ridgeline Senior Engineering Consultants provide best practice advice for Enterprise Infrastructure and Security solutions.

As Team Leaders, core activities for our Senior Consultants include conceptualising, architecting, and developing innovative infrastructure solutions including the installation and configuration of server and desktop infrastructures; planning and implementation of enterprise technology infrastructures; design network security; and develop operational best practice solutions to manage Microsoft and multi-vendor environments.

Technology Summary

Microsoft Server 2003/08 and Active Directory
Microsoft Exchange Server 2007
Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Office System 2007
Microsoft Systems Management and Operation Management (SCSM & SCOM)
Citrix Access Suite – Presentation Manager, Access Gateway etc.
LAN/WAN technologies – Cisco/Nortel
Storage technologies

Services Provided

Development of standards for Infrastructure solutions
Leading team members and third parties in client organisations in the integration of technological methodologies and components of Infrastructure projects
Best practice infrastructure deployment and lifecycle management
Thought Leadership and emerging technology knowledge
Development of Vision Statements
Infrastructure architect diagrams and documentation
Integration with existing frameworks

Senior Technical Integration, Design and Configuration Specialists

Ridgeline Architects and Senior Engineering Consultants provide best practice advice for Enterprise Infrastructure integration, design and configuration.

In addition, Ridgeline can provide our clients with configuration specialists that can provide the following services

Configuration management
Maintenance of installed equipment including Supplier liaison requirements
Managing configuration process across multiple hardware and software vendors
Support of existing configuration management databases

Data Architecture & Administration

Ridgeline’s primary objective to Data Architecture & Administration is to support a Microsoft approach. Our consultants, locally & interstate will specialise in the development of business intelligence solutions based around Microsoft SQL 2005/08 technology. Other Data Architecture related technologies that Ridgeline delivers locally are as follows:

Technology Summary

Microsoft Office SharePoint System (MOSS2007)
Microsoft CRM Dynamics

Services provided

Leading team members and third parties in client organisations in the integration of technological methodologies and components of Enterprise business projects
Development of Standards for Enterprise Business Architecture
Thought Leadership and emerging technology knowledge
Data architect diagrams and documentation
Integration with existing frameworks

Reporting Specialist

Ridgeline currently does not have any local SQL Reporting Service Consultants. Whilst we are in the process of recruiting Canberra based personnel, we have access to interstate resources that could be made available for planned future activities.

The objective of the local operation is to support a Microsoft Database environment. Our consultants will specialise in the development of business intelligence solutions based around Microsoft SQL 2005/08 technology. Current customer reporting requirements are in the form of:

Management of On-Line Processing (OLP) and Reporting Systems
Development of Reporting Process
Business Intelligence and Performance Management
Dynamics CRM
MOSS 2007

Procurement and Contract Management Specialist

Ridgeline Solutions, in conjunction with strategic partners, deliver professional services for procurement, benchmarking, organisational restructuring, performance improvement, development of competitive strategies including insourcing/outsourcing and competitive tendering.

We provide unique insight into strategies, techniques and technologies used by today’s best practice supply-management organisations. The main objective is to support our clients' strategic intent by working in a focused way towards key goals that deliver their strategy.

We only use consultants with the relevant experience and skills that suit the specific needs of our clients. We emphasize that our implementation of a structured approach and methodology is an accelerator, not a substitute for experience.

Our consulting services are underpinned by field-proven methods and tool kits, tailored for and supported by extensive track record in the federal public sector. We use these when they offer practical solutions and achievable results. We believe that each client situation is unique, with its own unique set of solutions.

Our Procurement Services include:

Procurement Strategy: funding analysis, insourcing/outsourcing opportunities, procurement strategies, routes and plans;
Requirements: knowledge elicitation, requirements management, capture, analysis, specification and review, risk assessment and feasibility studies;
Tender Management: procurement documentation, evaluation, negotiation, evaluation criteria, schedule drafting, testing strategy and planning;
Contract Management: acceptance support, project assurance, supplier reviews and post-award evaluation;
Procurement Management: risk management, project management, organisational analysis, process development, performance measurement and evaluation (including probity and audit), best practice and skills transfer;
Strategic Sourcing and Procurement Efficiency: comprehensive spend analysis, comparative benchmarking, category management expertise in all the major categories of relevance to the public sector;
Supply Chain Consultancy: supply chain analysis and management, product and supplier rationalization; and
Benefits Management: benefits analysis and management, benefits profiles and benefits realisation planning.

Technical Writers

Ridgeline Solutions, in conjunction with Terrace Services, have consultants that provide dedicated technical writing services to assist the client with tender (pre & post) and ongoing operational (BAU) technical documentation.

Our Writers will engage with the client prior to commencement in an effort to establish the guidelines and standards required by the business.

Project Managers

Ridgeline Project Managers (PM) focus on the project management of integrated customer solutions and technologies. The PM role requires a sound knowledge of the systems development life-cycle.

Ridgeline PM’s plan and manage different parts of the design and build process, and bring the dependencies of the total solution together.

Project Management services include:

Project initiation and ongoing reporting to project stakeholders
Ability to manage and co-ordinate multiple resources (design team, test team, architecture team)
Ability to manage overall project plan: scope, deliverables, customer expectations, risks, issues, quality, etc.
Ability to create a participative work environment, balancing the development needs of team members with the requirements of the project
Ability to define critical path, anticipates potential obstacles and overcomes them
Verified customer management skills
Business case development
Prince2 &/or PMI Certified

Business Analyst

Ridgeline Business Analyst’s work with customers to analyse and document the business requirements of customer stakeholders and develop functional requirements for ICT strategic projects

Services Provided:

Feasibility studies (business case),
Planning (business requirements, functional requirements),
Implementation Management (coding, execution of activities),
Testing management (test cases, unit testing, integration testing, user acceptance testing),
Deployment management (roll-out of the idea or request),
Project close-out (documentation, post-deployment review).

Our Business Analysts assist clients with requirements by:

Converting Business Requirements into functional requirements
Undertake Business impact assessments
Convert business requirements into functional requirements using client approved methodologies
Document environmental, interface, security and resource constraints and dependencies of the enhancement or modification
Perform cost benefit, feasibility and risk analysis of the requirements
Identify business project objectives and dependencies, and their interrelationship with applications
Document measure and evaluate existing processes associated with Applications
Provide advice on the organisational changes required to implement the new process

Systems Analyst

Ridgeline utilises relevant and experienced Application & Infrastructure consultants to best match the Systems Analysts skills for the required work. Ridgeline Systems Analysts work with our customers to define software requirements and specifications and guide program design and development.

Depending on the level of responsibility and the particular job role involved, duties may also include:

Services provided

Conducting functional requirements analysis to match technical requirements
Improving the interface between systems users, the operating system and applications software
Identifying and documenting Application interdependencies
Guiding the preparation of software manuals and guides
Identifying project tasks required to enhance, modify or upgrade
Analysing software requirements and defining program parameters and specifications

Our System Analysts assist clients with requirements by:

Converting functional requirements into technical requirements using client approved methodologies
Perform cost benefit, feasibility and risk analysis of the requirements
Document environmental, interface, security and resource constraints and dependencies of the enhancement or modification
Identify the activities required to develop the modification or enhancement
Identify dependencies with other applications

Data Analyst

Ridgeline works with customers business and technology stakeholders to analyse data requirements for Applications, Infrastructure and Business Intelligence requirements.

Our Data Analyst support client requirements by:

Assisting clients to understand it data requirements
Identify and dependencies with other data sources
Converting business data requirements into data specifications
Document environmental, interface, security and resource constraints and dependencies of the enhancement or modification to data
Identify the activities required to develop the modification or enhancement
Designing modifications to an application that comply with client based IT Enterprise Architecture and Application Architectures

Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery

Ridgeline, in conjunction with OpsCentre, delivers significant expertise in business continuity solutions and related consulting methodologies such as disaster recovery, security and crisis management. We have direct experience with AS/NZS 4360, AS/NZS 7799.2:2003, development of ISMS and security management frameworks and considerable experience in the fields of Business Continuity, Applications Continuity and Disaster Recovery.

Our consultancy solutions are designed to comply with both local and international risk, information security and disaster recovery and business continuity standards and frameworks such as:

ANAO Best Practice Guide (BPG) for Business Continuity Management
AS/NZS 4360:2004 – Risk Management
ISO 27001 – Information Security Management System
HB292/293:2006 – Business Continuity Management
OGC IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) – IT Continuity Management
Other industry standards such as the Business Continuity Institute (BCI) and the Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRII).

Sample Client Engagements

Central Federal Government Agency

RSA is currently working with this agency to develop a road-map and engagement plan for the client’s key IT vendors. This engagement includes requesting and reviewing vendor submissions and negotiating contracts.

Large Government Revenue Agency

RSA is working closely with the client to help them develop strategies and approaches as they go forward around enterprise architecture.

Commercial Organisation

RSA has been engaged by this organisation to investigate and develop a road-map to assist this organisation to expand its client base in the federal government market place. A secondary focus it to help develop a strategy to enable assets harvested from work in the federal government market place to be distributed globally.

Commercial Client

RSA has undertaken an 8 week consultancy for an Australian based commercial organisation to develop a strategy and plan to take the organisation from $50m in revenue to $100m in revenue over the next 2 years.