Our approach

ABN AMRO asked Improven to help them optimise the functional management of data quality in HR departments. Data quality is considered very important, as good data ensures that decisions cannot be made on gut feelings, but rather on facts. This is also known as fact-based working. The customer demand soon became concrete: performing a Data Quality QuickScan. Afterwards, the follow-up question arose where the aim was to simplify HR's application landscape.

During the initial discussion with the client, it became clear that in addition to optimising functional management, the implementation of a Data QuickScan was an excellent fit with the client's requirements. This QuickScan was carried out in three months, using the Data Management Framework developed by Improven. Improven frequently uses this Framework to carry out data quality scans at companies including AkzoNobel, Avans, Blokker, Boskalis and the Municipality of Amsterdam.

The QuickScan aims to identify improvement actions with regard to current data definitions, data governance, application landscape, data awareness and data processes. Figure 1 illustrates these five pillars, with the level of maturity determining the level of data quality. By analysing internal documentation and conducting interviews with process owners, these components were tested.

Figure 1: Data management framework

The findings showed that major improvements were possible in the areas of data governance and the application landscape. At the same time, data definitions also needed to be improved for an optimal design of the data governance and application landscape. The findings led to a concrete consultancy document containing the entire analysis of the Data Management Framework. As a result of this consultancy document, ABN AMRO asked Improven to further roll out and implement these actions.

Result

To optimise data governance, finding and defining process and data owners is essential. Employees often see the value of high data quality, but then they do not know where to start to improve quality. In addition, it is often unclear who is responsible for data quality. These points also emerged during the interviews at ABN AMRO. These and other interesting insights could quickly be turned into a targeted action plan to optimise data governance. The concrete improvement actions concerning data governance became clear at an early stage, so that - during the QuickScan - this optimisation could already be implemented by the Chief Architecture and Data Management (CADM) department. This department is ultimately responsible for data management and also takes care of IT Governance. Meanwhile, process and data owners have been appointed within the HR domain, which has greatly optimised data governance maturity.

Besides optimising data governance, the QuickScan revealed that the application landscape could be improved. HR's application landscape needed to be simplified, with data quality serving as an important starting point. To achieve this, ABN AMRO set up a new team with Improven within the HR Grid, the Integration Team. Improven consultants fulfil both the role of Product Owner and Business Analyst and implement improvements in HR's IT Landscape. Using roadmaps, the current IT landscape was mapped and prioritised for possible improvements over a two-year period. Because ABN operates in many countries, several applications are currently in use that differ from each other in several areas. The goal of this project is the integration of different systems resulting in a well-functioning and simplified application landscape.

Implementation is still in full swing. Over the next two years, the focus will be on further developing the application landscape. Improven's consultants are proud to be part of this ABN AMRO transition and team. Step by step, through prioritisation, we are working on simplifying the IT Landscape and working together on a future-proof application landscape.

To conclude: ultimately, wanting to work fact-based is at the heart of the bank as well. Wonderful challenges where Improven and ABN AMRO work together and complement each other. Both parties value an approachable and informal atmosphere combined with a good dose of entrepreneurship and professionalism. Improven is proud of this collaboration with ABN AMRO and looks forward to further optimising the next steps in data quality.