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Executive Summary

Strategic Information Systems Management Consultant

 

  • Chartered Engineer* (ICT), Chartered IT Professional with MBA qualification.
  • 20 years ICT product management experience.

  • Proficient in bridging the needs of business with the capabilities of technology.

     

  • “Chartered Engineers are characterised by their ability to develop appropriate solutions to engineering problems, using new or existing technologies, through innovation, creativity and change. They may develop and apply new technologies, promote advanced designs and design methods, introduce new and more efficient production techniques and marketing and construction concepts, and pioneer new engineering services and management methods. They may be involved with the management and direction of high-risk and resource-intensive projects. Professional judgement is a key feature of their role, allied to the assumption of responsibility for the direction of important tasks, including the profitable management of industrial and commercial enterprises.”  www.ieee.org. For full competency description, see http://www.iee.org/ProfessionalRegistration/competencies.cfm


Business Roles

  • Senior Strategic Management
  • Product Management
  • General Management
  • Business and Systems Analyst
  • Project Management
  • Strategic Marketing Management
  • Consulting
  • Software Development
  • Account Management

Areas of Expertise

Management Consulting:

Product Management ● Strategic Planning ● Strategic Project Implementation ● Business Management & Administration ● Strategic Planning ● Strategic Marketing ● Operational Planning ● Contract  Negotiation ● IT-to-Business Alignment

 

Information Technology Consulting:

Business Analysis ● Software Engineering & Management ● Software Development Project Management ● Systems Conceptualization ● Need Analysis & Requirements Specification ● Relational Database Design ● Spatial Database Design ● Data Mart Design ● Data Modeling 


Educator and Author:

Business School Tutor ● Conference Speaker ● Technical Journal Author ● Curricula Development & Delivery ● Seminar Facilitator ● Post Graduate Lecturer 

 

Notable Projects

Property Register Management Software
Systems & Business Analyst / Project and Product Manager / Software Architect  (1991 – Current)

Conceived, designed, built and product managed a comprehensive local government property register system known as Planner Municipal Software™. Now in its 5th major platform version, Planner has been deployed at major Southern African cities – namely Johannesburg (SA) and Windhoek (Namibia). This advanced system substantially improves information management, operational efficiency, and enables computer assisted mass appraisal (CAMA). 

 

 

CartoWorld Software

Marketing & Product Manager (1995 – 2006)

Conceived and product managed the development an advanced, innovative  suite of geo-mapping software products, used in over 40 countries. User industries include law enforcement bodies, emergency response, vehicle tracking, cellular communications, forestry and many others. 

 

Financial MIS Development:

Nedbank Limited (2004 – 2006)

Architected the development of MIS for Nedbank Group Procurement to analyze & report on its GBP400 million procurement function. System included development of a data mart, OLAP cubes, numerous reports, management dashboards, intranet portal and browser based database applications. Consistently nominated as top performer during this project.


CRM in Retail Banking

Nedbank Limited (1999–2001)

A subsidiary of Old Mutual PLC (FTSE 100), Nedbank is a premier South African banking institution. Responsible for building the in-house GIS competency, with a special focus of spatially enabling the CRM and network distribution strategy. The scope of the project included data mining, customer segmentation, campaign management, CRM Analytics, vendor rationalization (resulted in significant annual savings), data needs analysis, data vendor SLA contract negotiation, mortgage penetration analysis, optimal branch network location, property price prediction model for mortgage cross-sell.

 

Development of a Retail Allocation Model

Old Mutual Properties project (1998)

Lead member in project to establish viability of the largest proposed shopping and entertainment center in the Southern hemisphere for Old Mutual Properties, and a major shopping mall in Durban. Project resulted in the development of a spatial interaction software model to predict shopping center turnover.

 

Strategy Formulation

Compiled strategy documents: (i) The role of GIS in reengineering the planning process for the Johannesburg Metro planning body (1995), (ii) Formulation for a strategic GIS framework for the Western Metropolitan Council (1997) (iii) GIS technology report to facilitate GIS integration into the wider Kempton Park/Tembisa Council’s MIS systems (1998).

 

Database design for Metropolitan 5 Year Strategy Planning:

(i) Design and development of land information databases for 5-year strategic planning for 2 major South African metropolitan councils. (1996/97)

(ii) Created Geo/SQL and Oracle database for land-use planning for the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (1991). 

Employment History

In-Depth Data

Knysna, WC, South Africa
Jun 2006 - Present
Solutions & Product Management 

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Product Management
  • Strategic Business Development
  • Software Development Management
  • Project Management
  • Account Management

Notable Project Descriptions & Achievements:

  • Successfully managed the Planner Municipal Software™ upgrade to an enterprise, RDBMS and platform independent, web-based solution. (This is the 4th platform version upgrade managed since 1992.)
  • Successfully managed the implementation of ePlanner at the City of Windhoek, Namibia
  • Project managed the implementation of ePlanner™ for 4 municipal valuation rolls.
  • Negotiated ePlanner™ OEM distributor agreement with one of SA’s largest ICT companies
  • Software architect and engineer for a MIS to analyse and report on Nedbank Ltd‘s GBP400 million procurement function. System included data mart, OLAP cubes, numerous reports, management dashboards, intranet portal and browser based database applications.

 

Nedbank Ltd

Johannesburg, GP, South Africa
Apr 1999 - Jun 2006
Senior Manager 

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Establish business unit competency

Notable Project Descriptions & Achievements:

  • Lead software engineer in development of MIS capabilities for Nedbank Group Procurement to analyze & report on its GBP400 million procurement function. System included development of a data mart, OLAP cubes, numerous reports, management dashboards, intranet portal and browser based database applications.
  • A subsidiary of Old Mutual PLC (FTSE 100), Nedbank is a premier South African banking institution. Responsible for building the in-house CRM / GIS competency, with a special focus of spatially enabling the CRM and network distribution strategy. Project included data mining, customer segmentation, campaign management, CRM Analytics, vendor rationalization (resulted in significant annual savings), data needs analysis, data vendor SLA contract negotiation, mortgage penetration analysis, optimal branch network location, property price prediction model for mortgage cross-sell.
  • Supplier due diligence investigation resulting in savings of up to a million Rand per annum

 

In-Depth Data

Johannesburg, South Africa
Feb 1991 - Mar 1999
Product Manager 

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Product Management
  • Project management
  • Consulting
  • Database Systems Developer

Notable Project Descriptions & Achievements:

  • Conceived, designed, developed and subsequently product managed the omprehensive local government property register database system known as Planner™. Thereafter successfully managed the migration of Planner™ to the Windows platform.
  • Successfully marketed and implemented Planner™at Randburg Council, Kempton Park / Tembisa Metro Council, Middleburg Town Council. Kimberley, Germiston City Council.
  • Negotiated a licensing agreement of ePlanner™ to a Premier South African ICT company, who subsequently deployed the product at the City of Johannesburg, one of the world’s largest cities.
  • Conceived and product managed the development of innovative, technically advanced suite of geo-mapping software products, used in over 40 countries. Diverse user industries include law enforcement bodies, emergency response, vehicle tracking, cellular communications, forestry and includes a Nasdaq top 100 company.
  • Developed the marketing strategy for CartoWorld.com, online sales for the Carto suite of products.
  • Lead member in project to establish viability of the largest proposed shopping and entertainment center in the Southern hemisphere for Old Mutual Properties, and thereafter a major shopping mall in Durban, SA. Project resulted in the development of a spatial interaction software model to predict shopping center turnover.
  • Design and development of land information databases for 5-year strategic planning for 2 major South African metropolitan councils.
  • Created Geo/SQL and Oracle database for land-use planning for the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, SA’s premier research body.

 

Randburg Town Council

Johannesburg, South Africa
Aug 1986 - Jan 1991
GIS Officer 

Primary Responsibilities:

  • Project Manager
  • Software Programmer

Notable Project Descriptions Description & Achievements:

  • Developed and implemented a town planning information system in dBase III.
  • Initiated the council’s Geographic Information System project

Education / Professional Qualifications

Chartered Engineer - Engineering Council, UK

 

Chartered Information Systems Professional - British Computer Society, UK

 

Masters in Business Administration - Newport University, California
    (Thesis: The Strategic Role of Information within the Organization and how Data Warehousing and Spatially Enabled Systems Add Value.)

 

BSc (Management) - Commonwealth Open University

 

Business Diplomas - Executive Education, South Africa:

  • Financial Management
  • Marketing Management
  • Managerial Accounting
  • Strategic Management
  • Managerial Development
  • Project Management
  • Advanced Project Management

 

University Credits -

Civil Engineering / Town & Regional Planning Faculties: WITS University, RSA:

  • Mathematics
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Engineering Analysis & Design, Geography
  • Economics
  • Social Aspects of Planning
  • History of Environmental Planning

Professional Membership

  • Chartered Engineer - Engineering Council, UK
  • Chartered Member - British Computer Society
  • Professional Member - Computer Society of South Africa
  • Member - International Council of Self Esteem, South African Chapter

 

Development Programs

  • The Change Journey, 2010
  • Building Strategy Maps & Balanced Scorecards -APSO, 2004
  • Coaching and Mentoring Refresher Course - KUGSA, 2004
  • Professional Coaching and Mentoring- SA Council for Coaches and Mentors, 2003
  • Self Esteem Facilitator - Accredited with Int. Council for Self Esteem, 2003
  • “The Uhuru Journey” (leadership intervention)- Nedbank, 2003
  • National Qualifications Framework Assessor Training - Nedbank, 2003
  • Handling Difficult Performance Discussions Facilitator Training -Trideco, 2003
  • Transformational Leadership - KUGSA, 2003
  • Emotional Intelligence- KUGSA, 2003
  • Emotional Intelligence -Learning Link Intl., 2003
  • Focusing on your Highest Priorities - Franklin Covey, 2003
  • 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Franklin Covey, 2002
  • Strategic Management of a Bank - Jean Pousson & Ass., 2002
  • The Expert Negotiator - Jack Quinlan & Ass., 2001
  • CRM Analytics - SAS Institute (IMM Credit), 2001
  • Managing Diversity - Dr JP Sonn & Ass., 2001
  • Lateral Thinking Short Course - De Bono, 2000
  • Certificate in Bookkeeping and Business Administration- SA Business Academy, 1990
  • Numerous Siemens software courses -Siemens 1988

Software Product Training

  • SAS ETL 1 (comprising Prog 1 & Prog 2) - SAS Institute, 2003
  • Aprimo Marketing - Aprimo, 2001
  • Spans GIS - Infovision, 1993
  • AllyMap - Allyson Lawless, 1991
  • AllyCad - Allyson Lawless, 1991
  • PowerBuilder 3.0 - 1994
  • PC Arc Info - GIMS, 1990
  • Siemens-Unix Administration - Siemens 1989
  • Siemens Geo DB - Siemens 1989
  • Siemens SICAD Procedures - Siemens 1989
  • Siemens BS2000 Mainframe - Siemens 1988
  • Siemens SICAD - Siemens 1988

Technical Skills

Database Related: MS-SQL Server ● MS-Access ● AwareIM ● MySQL ● dBase ● Dbisam ● MS Analysis Services ● Crystal Reports ● Case Studio GIS: MapInfo ● ArcView ● AutoCAD ● TatukGIS ● ;MapGuide Studio ● MapGuide Server ● CartoWorld ● Spatialist & Geo/SQL ● AllyMap ● ARCGIS Software Languages:  Borland Delphi ● CA-Clipper ● VBA ● TSQL Other: OO ● HTML ● XML ● MS Project ● Front Page ● Mozilla Suite ● MS-Office ● IIS

 

Papers / Articles Published

Conference Papers 

  • The Use of a Spatial Interaction Model  (USA 2000)
  • Successful GIS through Education (SA 1995)
  • Desktop Map Directories: Technology of the Future (SA 1995)
  • Can Municipalities deliver commercial data? (SA 1994)
  • What it takes to make a success of Municipal GIS (SA 1994)
  • Database Structuring For Practical Municipal Town Planning And Engineering Applications (SA 1991)

Published Articles

  • Is your valuation process Computer Assisted or Mass Appraisal.? (2011)
  • GIS and Local Government - Is it giving a ROI? (1998)
  • GIS and the Internet (1998)
  • Desktop Mapping and The Restructuring & Development Program (1995)
  • Why is GIS data so expensive? (1995)
  • The Municipal GIS - Tool or Toy? (1993)
  • GIS Merry-go-round 1993

References

Colby Coombs

(Peer)
Managing Director Tawan Ma Ltd

“I have worked with Robert for over a decade - sometimes closely, always collegially. His penetrating intellect often provoked argument (never descending to a personal level and consistently objective) because he tends to assume the role of contrarian ("why are we doing it this way?"). But this role only enhanced Rob's value as a contributive team-player. Not only I, but all our colleagues, valued Rob's input: not only for its insightful substantive value (especially in matters spacial), but for its delivery, always clear and instructive, usually humorous. An exceptional colleague, Robert became - over the years - a friend whose personality I enjoy and whose character I respect. I am a generation older than Robert and I admire him.” October 5, 2008

Clive Lee-Kim

(Superior)
Senior Manager Nedbank Limited

“Exceptionally bright and an expert in his field. Would highly recommend him to work at a Senior level on both the design and development of Systems as well as the management of information from Systems. Great research abilities, and able to apply learnings (translates theory to practice). From a personality and behaviour point-of-view, he conducts himself with high ethics and professionalism.” August 27, 2008

Soreen McClure

(Peer)
Business Analyst NedbankLimited

I admire Robert’s “can-do” attitude towards finding solutions. He is able to apply creative thinking to come up with a solution that enables this area to work efficiently. His attention to detail and methodical approach ensures that all the systems and reports are well documented and understood. The success of this area can be contributed to Robert’s technical skills as well as his personal commitment to finding custom fit, cost effective solutions.” November 20, 2008

Jan de Jager

(Subordinate)
Analyst

“Robert gave me my break in life and has contributed to the success of my own career to date in more that one way. He is a dynamic individual with more innovation and foresight than can be written in such a short recommendation. His accomplishments are wide spread and has to be considered as one of the driving forces of GIS usage in South African business.” September 7, 2008

Dave Boltman

(Professional)
Software Developer Gegraphic Systems

“When I joined Rob’s team of software developers in 1997, Rob had already established a niche for his business in the world market with a set of mapping and GIS software components. These were unique in that, although they didn’t offer some of the very advanced features of similar products, they were easy to use and considerably less expensive than the alternatives. I attribute this to Rob’s management of the software projects, as well as his ability to stay in touch with, and abreast of, emerging technologies, and adapt to what will be useful to the market and to the product. Some of his innovative ideas such as using relational databases to store geospatial data were only implemented years later in competing products. On many occasions during our work together I have been impressed by Rob’s intuitive grasp of systems and components, and how they will interact with developing technologies and protocols. For instance, later when developing a property register system to be used by various cities and metros, his advocation of the then new xml technology and promotion of data-driven techniques gave us a as a great way of making an extremely configurable yet reusable product. Thus Rob has often directly been able to help me or guide me to finding solutions to my software design and debugging problems, in spite of being an advanced programmer myself. (my experience includes applications and systems / imbedded controller hardware / software design in pascal, Delphi and assembly language) I feel that Rob will continue to contribute to the advancement of the state of technology and engineering in his field.” December 15, 2008