Customer Success

"Text-based requirements gathering and validation is no longer viable for complex business systems. By using iRise simulations, we can dramatically improve the process of defining software applications. Visual simulations are more engaging for the stakeholders and far superior to static, text based descriptions in communicating business needs. The result should be less rework and reduced project risk."

– Melvin Brandman, CTO, Watson Wyatt LLP

Background
Watson Wyatt LLP is a $1.2 billion global consulting firm that specializes in employee benefits, human capital strategies, technology solutions and insurance and financial services. The principal operating subsidiary, Watson Wyatt & Company, is a human capital consulting firm with worldwide operations that is focused on improving business performance through human capital and financial management.

Challenge
In order to provide the best possible service and value to their clients, Watson Wyatt must often customize their core offerings. The goal is to deliver on time, on budget while creating software that is flexible and intuitive. Project teams were finding text-based project specifications too difficult for clients to understand, often short-circuiting important design phases of projects. This resulted in "scope creep" during the application customization process and led to expensive and time wasting rework as applications were being delivered.

Result
Watson Wyatt standardized on the iRise platform to visually validate requirements and "test market" applications prior to investing time and money in development. By using iRise simulations to define business applications, Watson Wyatt engages business stakeholders early in the process to identify missing system requirements, eliminate unnecessary functionality and discuss key process and policy issues. Once approved by stakeholders and clients, Watson Wyatt uses the simulations to more accurately estimate project costs to better evaluate outsourcing options. Watson Wyatt also applies application simulation to ideation enabling business and IT to collaboratively explore new business opportunities and sell them up the chain to management.