Business Needs Assessment

Complete a gap analysis of the business requirements of the MFI and the Mifos system:

• List functionality required by the MFI that are currently not part of Mifos functionality and the use case for the functionality
• List the human and infrastructure resources required to deploy Mifos that currently do not exist at MFI
• You can use this survey to assist with gap analysis in this process

Put forward a recommendation for any business process change required to deploy the Mifos system:

• List recommended process changes with references to the existing process maps.
  

Evaluate Server Hosting Requirements for the MFI to deploy Mifos in its branches

• Hardware requirements with configurations for server; map of these requirements against current inventory and a list of options to fill any gaps
• Options for hosting provider based on requirements
• Security and other requirements (e.g. back-up) for hosting and network architecture. Map these requirements against proposed hosting solution

Evaluate Branch Infrastructure and Provide Options

• Connectivity and fail over options
• Evaluate power resources and UPS options
  
• Branch office computer needs
•  printing needs and options
• Hardware configurations and gaps in current inventory against these requirements
• List the connectivity options including service details and costs
• Evaluate environmental factors on power and connectivity
  

System administration resource requirements document (deployment, ongoing maintenance and user support).

• List the human resources required to administer the system during and after deployment and their respective roles & responsibilities
• Assess training needs.
  

Define Scope, Timeline, and Tasks for a Mifos Deployment

• Based on the gap analysis, list the development (customization) requirements (if any) and high level specifications to adapt the Mifos product to meet the business needs of MFI:
• Provide a high level description of proposed features

• Meet several times with MFI business process owners to define existing processes as they occur in legacy systems
• Document existing IT systems; offline and online procedures
  
• Document ledger systems
• Evaluate existing business processes, documents and vocabulary
  
• new client documents, new group forms, other forms
• vocabulary:  What special terms does the MFI use that will need to be accommodated
• Document changes to business practices.  How will day-to-day activities change using Mifos?
• Define and document offline procedures.
• Determine Configuration Options
  

• Define reporting needs for MFI:
• Generate a list of reports required by MFI with priority (critical, highly desirable, not required).
  
• For each report listed, include
•  the data fields required in the report
  
• the use case for the report.
• format of data in report

• Define the data migration needs for the MFI and propose an approach for this migration:
• Description of what data to transfer to the Mifos system – data fields (or tables or groups of) and inclusive dates
• Will the MFI want all or some of its historical data?
• Will only active accounts migrate?
• Will historical data for the active accounts only?

• Identify challenges in data migration , for example gaps in data, dirty data, logistical challenges
  

• Identify procedure for migrating data
  
• Suggested method for transferring historical data to Mifos
  
•  - manual entry?  migration tool?
  
•  - estimated time for completing this transfer
• 
  
• Recommendation for allocating resources (roles and responsibilities) from MFI and Mifos Specialist for the deployment and post-deployment phase:
• List of roles and responsibilities for deployment project teams
• Identify DEDICATED PROJECT MANAGER to coordinate deployment at MFI
• Provide STRONG PROJECT MANAGEMENT from Mifos Specialist
• Post-deployment roles:  who will perform:
• Mifos upgrades
• database maintenance
• daily maintenance
• Administrative roles in Mifos
  

• Create Training Plan
• What training needs to occur?
• Head Office Training
• Branch Training
• Who will conduct training?  The first round of training should be conducted by someone knowledgeable about BOTH Old and new business processes, as well as Mifos itself.
  
• Where and when will training occur?

• Draft project plan and timeline for the Mifos deployment.
• Key activities, tasks estimated time to complete, estimated start dates
• Resource, weather, terrain, holiday, and hardware delivery considerations included