Standardization
Standardization is the prerequisite to integration. Without it, integration would be immensely difficult and expensive. Standardization eliminates duplication of efforts, reduces training costs and facilitates the project schedule. It is a dynamic process; consequently, the standard programs (referred to as "application standards") must be continually reviewed and updated.

Examples of criteria which can be used in the selection of the application standards are:

• Functionality's to meet business requirements
• User friendliness
• Portability
• Modularity and flexibility in design
• Support of integration requirements
• Preference for commercially available programs over in-house development

Integration
The capability to perform electronic work transfer among different project locations will offer strategic and operational benefits, including:

• Enhancing quality by bringing the work to the appropriate personnel
• Performing work where it is most cost-effective
• Achieving the above benefits while leveling the workload in different offices. It will provide a stable working environment for the employees.

Integration requires standardization of not only the data and application standards, but also software, hardware and networks. The purpose of a system integration study is to:

• Formulate a comprehensive automation/integration plan for corporate-wide implementation
• Establish the priorities for development and implementation
• Estimate costs and schedules
• Define the resource requirements and availability
• Identify required changes for effective implementation

Work Process Improvement
Work process and automation typically compliment each other; however, work process improvement may or may not involve automation. It may cover only the internal business scope of work, or it may extend to the owners and suppliers. Consequently, certain relationships, such as partnering, will have to be established. It is important that work process improvements in businesses be continuously examined from all perspectives.

Training/User Support
In addition to adequate funding, high quality and comprehensive training programs are required to produce well-trained users. Well-trained users are essential to the successful implementation of strategic automation/integration process.

Training can be generally grouped into the following three categories:

• Training the Trainers
• Training the Users
• Training Management for Automation Awareness

Training the Trainers
The purpose of this training is to equip a core group of personnel in each office with the knowledge required to become specialists in the application and technical architecture standards (software / data base, hardware, networks and system security/management). These specialists will, in turn:

Train the users in their organizations

Act as technical experts for local support

Training the Users
This is the training in which personnel, at all levels, from the Regional Office Manager to the designers on the projects, will need in order to become proficient in using the standard tools. These tools include the application standards as well as the technical architecture standards.

Training Management
The purpose of this training is to raise the level of awareness of management concerning the impact of automation/integration on the business. The personnel included are office managers, business line managers, business development managers / representatives, project managers, project engineers and functional managers. The major impact will include work methodologies, quality, costing, pricing, project schedule, skills, skill mixes and organizational structure.

In general, training programs for the use of the technical architecture tools exist in every office. However, the quality must be reviewed and upgraded as required. In some instances, it may be more beneficial -- from both the quality and cost perspectives to change some of the in-house training programs to third-party training programs (vendor developed, conducted, or both).

Training for the use of the disciplines' application standards will, in some cases, require more than just classroom instruction because of the complexity of the computer programs. In such cases, arrangements should be made for the trainees to immediately work on projects, in other offices if necessary, which use the application standards. There are some discipline specific, but well developed, training programs in the corporation. They are being implemented successfully and can be used as the basis for the development of the corporate plans.

User Support
Responsive user support organizations must be in place to help the users resolve the problems which arise from the daily operations and to work with them on opportunities for systems improvements. This is particularly important for the in-house developed software.