Single Window Systems
In the OIC Member States
94
5.1.2. Project Implementation Initiation
Four challenges occur or relate to the project implementation. The table below shows these
challenges and possible strategies and options to overcome these challenges:
Table 23: Implementation Phase - Challenges and Options
Challenges
1. Weak Quality of Preparatory Work
Often project teams or operators lack the capacity and experience to prepare the project and
undertake the analytical work and documents, namely on the Business Process Analysis side. This
capacity gap is often addressed by external technical donor support but the results lack
ownership and the capacity of project teams is not built.
Why does it matter?
In this phase fundamental choices are made about the design and the implementation of the SW.
These choices have to be made understanding the implications and dependencies. If the analytical
work does not provide this information wrong choice may be made leading to sub-optimal
choices.
2. Lack of Control of Execution
SWs may depend on third party financing. This often leads to non-control over funding and the
use thereof. With a third party funding, there are three layers of communication in the project,
and the third party may only be accountable to the funding party but not the SW operator.
Outsourcing IT development often leads to disconnect the SW entity and the third party and lack
of communication on delays and implementation difficulties.
SW operators often do not have the absorption capacity to fully engage as equal partner in the
project delivery, and often is it not recognized that both vendors and SW entity need to make
investment in staff, technology, and equipment and infrastructure.
Why does it matter?
Without a good and timely communication between all partners delays and difficulties cannot be
noted and addressed in time. This can put a project under pressure if the financing scheme does
not provide for flexibility. It also increases the risk of not matching visions to the development.
3. Weak Control of Project Execution
Single Window projects are complex projects and often fail to deliver on time and on budget.
Single Window Project teams seldom use consistently an accepted project management
methodology to steer the projects. Commonly, an IT management framework is implemented by
the third party solution provider, but no equal level of scrutiny applies to the overall
implementation process, including the changes necessary within the external SW parties.