Projects

Here are some of the projects I’ve enjoyed working on for different clients. Some of them have been kind enough to share some words of praise as well.

Business Analysis: TIA

The Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA) is a joint venture between the University of Tasmania and the Tasmanian State Government, and is the key public provider of agricultural research and development in Tasmania.

TIA enlisted Melbourne consulting firm Roberts Evaluation to assist them in formulating their new approach to Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (MER), and I was brought in to add an IT perspective to the resultant systems requirements of the new approach, and make recommendations following business analysis of TIA’s project management and MER methodology.

Website: TMD Marine.

TMD Marine is Hobart’s specialist chandlery wholesaler. While the business already had a website, they were keen to bring everything under local management to ensure top support, and asked me to give the site a freshen-up while I was at it.

Website: Revolve Arts

Revolve Arts has had a web presence for many years, but it was starting to look that way.

I was approached for advice on how to incorporate online singing lessons into the site’s content, in addition to giving the site a fresh look. I suggested a two-stage approach to get the site content current first, while lesson content was developed.

The site was already enjoying good results with search engines and it was important that this was carried over into the new layout – onsite search engine optimisation was improved and offsite facets were tightened up.

Various content: AutoDoc HSE by Streamline Software

AutoDoc HSE is, at its simplest, a PDF printer driver. However, its genius is that it can be configured to perform document delivery on a batch basis. The system works so well it’s used by companies such as FedEx in the US.

The problem for its developers, Streamline Software, was communicating the system’s flexibility and features to end users and administrators.

I provided a number of levels of communication to accompany the product: a fully indexed, 249-page software reference manual which documented every single control in the software, a quick start guide, a flash presentation for the website, and training videos targeted at different levels of users, from basic overviews through to instruction for database administrators.

“What a fine piece of work from you again, 1000+ Kudos for you!”

Hans Wallaart, Streamline Software, The Netherlands.

 Website: Launceston Holiday Park Legana

Launceston Holiday Park Legana knew that the lion’s share of its business came via its website. The website had served very well, but it had become something of a piece of internet history.

“I approached Marshall Roberts to update & create a new website for the park. Not only was he very affordable, but business has increased by 20% since the web page has been up. The website Marshall has created is now very informative & has great photos & ideas that I would not have thought of. He also continues technical support & keeps me up to date with statistics.”

Annette Chorley, Owner, Launceston Holiday Park Legana, Tasmania.

Data extraction: Biosensis

Biosensis produces reagents for life science research. Based in Adelaide, it has an office in the US and distributors around the world.

Part of Biosensis’s business process involved extracting data from a large text file. A custom-built FileMaker Pro application was tying up a computer for days to do the job. I was asked to provide an alternative.

The existing tool struck me as overkill for what was a relatively simple task. So I used Microsoft Excel – which meant no further expense to Biosensis on software  – to write some VBA script to extract the data and output it in the format of choice.

The result:

“Well done Marshall… our previous system took a matter of days to process the data; yours took 15 minutes.”

Prof. Robert Rush, Biosensis, South Australia.

  Monthly reporting toolset: Masterbrokers

Masterbrokers tracks stocking levels of a wide range of foods in major supermarket chains on behalf of wholesalers.

When Masterbrokers ‘came up against a wall’ with reporting, its IT infrastructure provider recommended contacting me to discuss possible solutions.

The data was stored centrally, but in a form that didn’t enable flexible reporting. There were also constraints around what could be done with the existing system.

Working within those constraints, but recognising the need to provide a way to mine the rich dataset for maximum value, I developed a Microsoft Excel template to accept a raw data export from the more rigid existing system. This enables completely flexible reporting based on the parameters the client chooses, on the fly.

“Thank you for your expertise, the depth of your technological knowledge is astounding. We were certainly able to give our client so much more than they asked for and we thought we were capable of. You even made it easy to understand!”

Rochelle Toghill, Masterbrokers, Tasmania.

Website: Southern Plumbing

With a team of plumbers operating throughout Hobart and its surrounds, Southern Plumbing has a well-established customer base in corporate, civil, and private spheres.

Updating the website and making it editable was a big priority in Southern Plumbing’s push to bring their business up to date on all fronts.

I met with them to discuss their aims for the business, then set about overhauling the site, creating a completely new design. I crafted the home page introductory text and much of the other copy, and also updated existing copy for the sake of search engine optimisation. I recommended a photographer to get some interesting shots of the team and their work.

“From the pre visit to discuss working together through to the Southern Plumbing site up and running, Marshall was very easy to work with.  He provided us with regular updates via email and phone contact when required.  Marshall did not make any assumptions on what we were after and ensured that he had a very clear understanding of everything that we required the site to be for our business now and moving forward.  Marshall customised a site to suit our business, he ran with our vision, putting it into action with his expertise and vast knowledge.  We are extremely happy with the site that he created for Southern Plumbing and look forward to continuing the working relationship with him.”

Lisa Beswick, Southern Plumbing.

Grants management database: Landcare Tasmania

Landcare Tasmania manages millions of dollars in grants and hundreds of projects across Tasmania including its own deductible gift recipient fund, the Tasmanian Landcare Fund.

I was approached to make a recommendation on a system that would better allow staff to capture details of grant applications and associated data.

After a round of business analysis I’d developed a good understanding of the organisation’s needs.

The organisation had inherited a Microsoft Access-based database, and key staff were comfortable using it. It wasn’t ideal for a genuinely multi-user environment, including off-site access, but, as is usually the case in the community sector, budget was a big issue for the organisation. A compromise was reached – I developed the data entry screens in Microsoft Access and developed the database in a MySQL database. This provided a much more robust storage mechanism while still incorporating the features of Access with which staff were more familiar. This solution entailed no added infrastructure cost, because MySQL, which powers millions of websites around the world, is free.

The organisation intended that the database would be an interim solution until more funding became available, but I always suspected that that money might be a long way off. Therefore, I kept the database structure as flexible as possible to allow future enhancements.

The system is still an integral part of the grants process, with several enhancements performed since.

“…great business empathy and new perspective… thorough, patient, highly professional, brilliant value – and really nice to have around! Thank you.”

Margie Jenkin, CEO, Landcare Tasmania.

Training: Microsoft Project

As project manager for a large software company, tracking development projects in three Australian states and two other countries, I used to spend a lot of time using MS Project.

It’s a great planning and reporting tool, but it can also be infuriating in the way it attempts to be ‘clever’ and override your decisions. Some of it is legitimate – there are a lot of settings behind the scenes that determine how the software behaves – but you need to have delved fairly deeply under the hood to understand the way it works.

Mark at Blythe & Watchorn Builders knew his way around the software, but a few of these kinds of sticking points were causing him some headaches. He asked me to deliver some ad hoc training to address his specific questions.

I came in for one session of ad hoc training, spending a little under an hour with Mark. We sorted out all the issues, and the problems disappeared straight away once I’d explained Project’s “idiosyncrasies”.

“Your exceptional knowledge, advice and training on Microsoft Project is very appreciated. I look forward to fostering an ongoing relationship.”

Mark Smith, Site Works Supervisor, Blythe and Watchorn Builders.

Case studies: Axsys

Axsys is a well-established Tasmanian IT provider with a track record of successful business that has seen an expansion into South Australia, Western Australia, and Victoria.

I was approached to interview clients to prepare brief case studies detailing some of the key problems to which Axsys was able to provide solutions. With Axsys working with larger and growing organisations, I concentrated on providing information within themes that I knew would be relevant to people in dynamic businesses: maximising efficiencies, flexibility to accommodate growth, and the importance of post-implementation support.

“Thanks Marshall, these look great. Ready for a few more?”

Jason Ransley, Director, Axsys.

Website: Bladerunners

Bladerunners promote and sell scythes, online. Seriously.

“This is how I try to make a financial justification for what I do to relax.”

Marshall Roberts, IT guy who likes scythes so much he bought the company.