
Transforming Supercomputing Capabilities for a Leading UK Weather Service
Learn how Evance Consulting drove successful change management activities a Leading UK Weather Service £1.2 billion supercomputing upgrade through comprehensive impact assessments and strategic planning.
Introduction
A leading UK weather service embarked on an ambitious program to enhance its supercomputing capabilities with a £1.2 billion investment. Critical to this transformation was the effective management of business changes across multiple directorates. Evance Consulting played a key role in mapping these changes and facilitating the organization-wide adaptation to new technologies and processes.
The Client Need
The Organisation needed to:
Upgrade its supercomputing infrastructure without disrupting ongoing operations.
Reassess business processes, job roles, and technology use within its operational framework.
Ensure systematic documentation, understanding, and management of all changes to minimise disruption and maximize the effectiveness of the new supercomputing capabilities.
The client faced several challenges:
Managing the transition from legacy systems to a state-of-the-art cloud infrastructure.
Ensuring all staff were trained and equipped to handle new systems and workflows.
Engaging stakeholders across various levels of the organisation to align with the transition plan.
Before engaging Evance Consulting, the client:
Had not fully documented or managed the impacts of the upcoming changes.
Lacked a comprehensive training plan aligned with the new technology and operational changes.
Faced difficulties in ensuring consistent communication and engagement with all stakeholders.
Our Solution
Strategic Change Impact Assessments (CIA)
Led comprehensive CIAs across four main directorates: Science, Operational Technology, Programmes (STEP), and Services.
Conducted detailed analysis to document and manage the transition effects from legacy systems to the new cloud infrastructure.
Training and Development Alignment
Collaborated closely with the client's training consultants to design and implement tailored training programs.
Ensured that over 400 staff members were equipped to handle new systems and workflows.
Stakeholder Engagement and Communication
Engaged with stakeholders through workshops, interviews, and regular updates.
Ensured that all levels of the organisation were aligned with the transition plan and fully aware of the changes impacting their work areas.
The Outcome
Strategic Framework Establishment - Set the framework for the client's Business Change Managers to conduct CIAs using a multi-methodology approach, including business analysis, APMG Change Management Practitioner, and ADKAR/PROSCI principles.
Comprehensive Impact Assessments - Conducted strategic mapping and impact assessments across 55 teams in four directorates, identifying impacts on 32 teams and completing 23 detailed assessments within the Science departments, facilitating a smooth transition to cloud infrastructure.
Training and Development Excellence - Enhanced the skills of over 400 staff members through aligned training interventions, defined with the Training Consultant and Implementation Change Manager.
Guiding Principles and Strategic Alignment - Developed business change guiding principles, capturing programme-specific activities, aligning them to key roadmap stages, and assessing gaps, ensuring the supercomputing program's success.
Conclusion
Evance Consulting’s meticulous approach to change management in the UK weather service’s supercomputing project highlights our capabilities in handling large-scale IT transformations. By focusing on detailed impact assessments, strategic training alignment, and comprehensive stakeholder engagement, we ensured that the weather service could achieve its strategic objectives with minimal disruption and maximum benefit from its new supercomputing resources.
Is your organisation facing significant technological upgrades? Contact Evance Consulting to discover how our change management services can streamline your transition and optimise your operational capabilities.
Power in Numbers
55
Core business processes mapped and re-designed.
23
Day intensive work Package delivered ensuring rapid implementation readiness.
400
Documents were analysed to provide informed decisions to the Board and Project team.