 In early 1997, Anne Hartley thought the time was right to start her own consulting practice. At that time, she examined a multifaceted twenty-year professional history in the software business and concluded her experience, proven instincts, track record, and entrepreneurial orientation offered unique value. The time was right...AH Consulting Inc. was born and has evolved around a common theme of developing holistic and pragmatic solution strategies that bring together (or "bridge" ) software or information technology initiatives and business goals in an optimal manner. The foundation of this practice spans a variety of environments and responsibilities from programmer to executive management -- experiencing first-hand, all aspects of software technology initiatives, commercialization, and related activities -- from inception to deployment and business development. While Ms. Hartley has chosen to remain Principal Consultant, depending on the engagement she can expand AH Consulting's team as appropriate to include other specialized service or solution providers - or appropriately integrate the role(s) of AH Consulting with clients' staff and leadership team.
What is the mission of AH Consulting?
By serving as an effective bridge between software or information technology initiatives and business goals, the mission of Anne Hartley and AH Consulting is to help clients optimize business-technology integration - overcoming common and costly gaps. Unlike conventional consultative engagements,
the approach and role(s) of AH Consulting are customized to best address client needs.
Services from AH Consulting are fulfilled with special focus on bridging understanding, communication, and implementation strategies that are common and costly in the context of four business-technology integration gaps: the gap between technology users or industry domain experts who have little to no technical orientation and technology providers who typically have little to no business orientation, domain expertise, or lack essential detailsthe gap between technology implementation and a time-sensitive solution required for critical business deploymentthe gap between current use of technology and what it needs to be to meet evolving business requirementsthe gap between technology and having it be a viable commercial product or service offeringThese gaps lead to serious ramifications for the bottom line: missed opportunity, competitive weakness, inefficient business operation, or implementations that are over budget, late, and under developed. The goal of AH Consulting is to help fill the gaps: helping technology users express business requirements in a way that results in effective implementations and execution. And helping technology providers better understand business requirements with an implementation strategy that clarifies approach, meets current needs, and is designed to embrace change. In effect...developing a solution strategy that bridges technology initiatives and business goals for a focused and positive outcome - addressing the needs of all stakeholders.
Who are AH Consulting's clients?
Generally speaking, the multifaceted nature of AH Consulting is applicable to and very effective for high-tech startups, investors, small business, "chasm-crossers", software vendors, entrepreneurs, and mainstream corporate environments or other entities who are in some way developing technology-based companies or transforming business-driven technology infrastructure. Client profiles include commercial software development companies, a major health insurance provider undergoing significant technology transformations, start up software companies, and small independent businesses who want to have a web presence or implement a technical solution to solve a business problem.
Anne Hartley maintains high standards and high expectations for the role(s) of AH Consulting. However, the ultimate goal and measure of AH Consulting's success is your success. Here are three representative client engagements:
Increased scope of document automation solution capacity by a factor of 10,000. AH Consulting led the initiative to gather business requirements, define solution strategy, and orchestrate end-to-end implementation including the development of new roles and responsibilities. The roles of AH Consulting were tightly integrated with client's operation to coordinate efforts of client's cross-functional staff, management, software tool vendor, and outsourced print/mail vendor. The result transformed the legacy solution from a limited, hard-coded implementation which produced less than 200 document variations in English hard-copy to an adaptable, data-driven solution which produces all possible combinations of allowed data variations - more than 2,000,000 - in multiple languages for both hard-copy and electronic formats.Spearheaded business turnaround by defining strategy and leading implementation for a commercial technology offering which secured strategic Reseller and OEM business relationships.Achieved critical milestones during early pre-launch phase of technology-based startup. AH Consulting served as a key communication link between the visionary (company founder) and technology provider, initiating an important adjustment to the technical implementation strategy, setting roll-out strategy for critical pre-launch deliverables, and facilitating essential process/infrastructure components. These contributions resulted in funding opportunities, attraction of key management personnel and successful company launch.
What's the style and approach of Anne Hartley?
Regardless of the "hat", Ms. Hartley offer a unique blend of technical and business orientation with a strong dose of common sense, entrepreneurial spirit, effective leadership, good instincts and energy which has proven to be a winning combination for clients. She always strives to bring to the table: vision, articulate cross-communication skills, pragmatism, experience, hands-on as needed, management, team development and a unifying influence - along with a strong sense of commitment and "ownership". Her specialty is staying focused and getting the job done efficiently through exhibiting and encouraging good listening skills, team and consensus building, innovative approaches, collaboration, organization, and mutual respect. Ms. Hartley never approaches any engagement with a preconceived solution template. First, she takes time to understand what is needed, relevant history, and then focuses on solution strategies that will draw upon her experience, insight, and methodology. The role(s) of AH Consulting may be performed independently or, better, be part of your team - working along with your staff and management as appropriate - and may be strategic to help set direction and/or tactical to "make it happen". In addition, Ms. Hartley may recommend or arrange to involve and coordinate other service or solution providers as needed to bring other specialized expertise to the table. It is the nature of AH Consulting and expectation of passed performance to be a key player and significant contributor. Please contact Anne Hartley to discuss your specific needs and become better acquainted. If it's a good fit, you'll both know and then decide how best to proceed.
Ms. Hartley's professional history reflects a variety of successful roles and responsibilities where she typically "wears multiple hats". This natural tendency along with an affinity for hats has branded her "The Hat Lady" -- which also reflects the multifaceted service and exceptional value of AH Consulting.
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