SOLUTIONS
Lexicon Systems, LLC is known for its ability to address complex business challenges, often when the neither the problem nor the solution is clear. We apply extensive experience, innovative thinking and third-party objectivity to help tame chaos and solve problems. Read on to see snapshots of real solutions from Lexicon’s Information Systems/Information Technology (IS/IT) and Business Advisory consulting practices.
TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
Software life cycle management
Our client had a clear vision but lacked the resources to carry out an enterprise-wide EHS software implementation. Lexicon managed the entire software life cycle, leading client-vendor-consultant team of 20. Lexicon’s facilitated work sessions with business, EHS, IT and management staff from each business line. The work group reached consensus on and documented business processes and business requirements. The business case showed a positive ROI and the company wanted to spread out the cash flow. Lexicon collaborated with \IT and senior management sponsors, creating a phased implementation approach to meet these objectives.
Lexicon managed an end-to-end implementation. We helped our client to navigate the first phase, which formed the infrastructure for subsequent phases, and proceeded with the second phase. Our firm provided significant software design, testing, user documentation and training services.
Business process optimization
Lexicon’s applied its industry, environment, health & safety (EHS) and IT skills to analyze, streamline, standardize and document EHS business processes across the company’s different business lines. We developed generic processes—apart from EHS subject matter. The client was delighted that these business processes worked equally well for EHS, quality, human resources (HR) and customer service.
Our staff has streamlined an array of business processes for various clients, for example
- audit and inspection checklist development
- audit and inspection management
- audit and inspection execution
- document management
- document workflow
- environmental permitting
- incident and event management
- incident investigation
- industrial hygiene data collection
- task management
- task scheduling
- management of change
- material safety data sheet (MSDS) authoring
- material safety data sheet management
- occupational health data management
- occupational health exam scheduling
- occupational health testing
- regulatory action item calendar
- survey development
- survey execution
- training management
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Business requirements
One client’s objectives were to understand their internal and external EHS and quality obligations, assign accountability, streamline and standardize business processes and capture information for near real-time decision-making. They had two discrete businesses with over 25 facilities and lean EHS staffing. Lexicon facilitated business requirements gathering using a team dialog approach where EHS, quality and IT specialists reached consensus on business requirements and business processes. This led to software evaluation and selection.
Another client had developed a set of business requirements and then developed an environmental software application in-house. The implementation was “challenged”—it was late, over budget and lacked 60 percent of the features in the initial specification. The client decided to replace the system with full-featured commercial software. Lexicon facilitated a series of work sessions with stakeholders from six business units, corporate environmental staff and management sponsors. We helped the client to verify, update and reach consensus on requirements for the new system. This formed the basis for software evaluation and selection.
Software evaluation and selection
Clients needed software evaluation and selection experience once they documented their business requirements. Lexicon teamed with clients to arrive at a “short list” of software vendors that could meet the greater part of the requirements. Lexicon’s reviewed the clients’ business and software objectives. In addition, we reviewed the business requirements, clarifying and adding to them as needed to proceed with an objective selection and evaluation. We helped the clients develop software evaluation criteria before starting the evaluation, focusing on the most critical needs.
Lexicon utilized its contacts with the top enterprise and mid-market occupational health & safety; environmental, health and safety (EHS); incident management, audit and task management software vendors. We arranged a confidential software gap analysis and onsite software demos for key stakeholders. The clients were able to evaluate and select a software vendor based upon the criteria developed earlier.
Software design
Several clients planned to streamline and augment their software without adding permanent staff.. They required the help of an expert that understood IT, business and EHS issues. Lexicon designed software for consulting firms and independent software providers (ISVs). These design documents provided business rules, software, report and interface specifications for software coding. Working as “translators” between business subject matter experts (SMEs) and IS/IT staff, our Lexicon prepared design documents for software modules and components including, but not limited to
- audit management module
- business operating systems interface
- contact database
- document management system
- incident management module
- industrial hygiene module
- occupational health module
- task management system
Training
Our client requested instructor-led training for over 125 individuals from operations, management, EHS and IT staff. Lexicon developed a detailed, illustrated, step-by-step software user manual using the client’s test databases. We also developed the training plan and curriculum as well as materials to supplement the user manual. Lexicon conducted a series of half-day training sessions to introduce users to the software, explain key features and functions and provide users with hands-on experience. We added new material to the user manual and conducted supplemental training for each implementation phase.
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Our client selected commercial EHS software to replace dozens of spreadsheets, stand-alone databases and other data sources. They also wanted to link to information in plant and back-office systems. Lexicon helped the client streamline and standardize their business processes, evaluate the legacy systems, and integrate information from an asset database and the human resources (HR) systems.
On other assignments Lexicon helped clients to integrate commercial EHS software applications with process data historians, real-time environmental monitoring equipment, laboratory information management systems (LIMS) and other data sources.
BUSINESS SOLUTIONS
Market due diligence
Lexicon gathered market intelligence for private equity investors, venture capitalists, executives and senior management involved in mergers & acquisitions. In each assignment our clients needed an independent assessment of their position in the marketplace. In addition, they wanted to verify if their market message was effective. Lexicon conducted primary research to identify any gaps between internal and external perceptions of the company. This information was extremely helpful in strategic planning and in implementation of those plans.
Lexicon has gathered market intelligence to support due diligence in wide range of industries
- from nuts & bolts manufacturing to environment, health & safety (EHS) consulting firms;
- from commercial and residential construction to specialty chemical manufacturers;
- from frozen foods to the EHS and quality management information systems (EMIS) software market.
Product and services marketing: executive white papers
Lexicon Systems, LLC helps companies to gain market “mind share” by writing executive white papers. Each well-researched white paper focuses on a technical topic to showcase a product or service. The paper is written for an audience that the client identifies.
Our clients often use these white papers in conjunction with a Web Seminar, where a Lexicon consultant presents key points of the paper. Frequently our clients distribute these white papers to their customers at software user group meetings and professional or trade association meetings. Clients’ sales forces issue these papers to prospective customers; sales people and customer alike rely on the papers to provide an independent, objective, third party view of critical business issues, as well as possible solutions.
Product and services marketing: software assessment
The Independent Software Vendor (ISV) market makes and sells software products that run on one or more computer hardware or operating system platforms. Large hardware and software vendors like Microsoft, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Apple and others encourage and lend support to smaller ISVs, often with special "business partner" programs (www.SearchITChannel.com).
Lexicon applies its unique skill sets to evaluate Independent Software Vendor (ISV) applications. Our evaluation considers your software product—for example, enterprise incident management software, enterprise or mid-market environment, health, safety and quality (EHSQ) management information system (MIS) or occupational health & safety system. Lexicon works with you to understand your company and software objectives from a strategic marketing perspective. We review your software and evaluate its features and functions, its “look and feel,” and overall usability and, equally important, its market position. We provide recommendations to help your company to improve its product and recognition in the marketplace.
Product and services marketing: marketing communications
First impressions count. Today, most people conduct research on the Web before considering a product or service provider, especially in high-tech industries. Websites and associated marketing documents must quickly grab the reader’s attention and provide solid content, or the reader will move on in a matter of seconds.
Lexicon develops marketing communications plans and marketing collateral—the collection of media used to support the sales of a product or service. We assess the existing marketing communications and recommend changes to increase exposure in the marketplace. Our process considers the company’s main objectives, its culture and the intended market message. Recommendations often include a new “look and feel” and new or updated marketing collateral such as product, services and/or technical sheets, case studies and Web content.
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