Learning launch

Challenge: - I got the software system contract from a leading casino in Sri Lanka.  My duty is to analyze  the whole process which is totally manual and design fully automated software system to cover all the  tasks which are carried out by the whole staff members of the casino. The casino was operating at the  time I got the contract so, I needed to work with the running business and I had only myself to do the  whole parts of system designing process.  Only the networking part has been done properly and  computers were installed in the required main places but server and storage was not purchased at  that time. The casino is running 24 * 7, so no system shut down or restart is allowed.  All the functions  of the Casino were carried out manually by the staff before introducing an automated system. All  reports were generated by using excel sheets, all customer details have been maintained in a paper  based files, all payments were issued on a paper based voucher system and so many chits were  circulating among people in the casino for different purposes. To overcome those manual processes,  new automated system is needed to be installed in the facility. As I initially identified, there were 8  sub-systems in the system and all sub systems should be interconnected to from a complete ERP  system. I was given 6 months to complete the whole system.

Selection: - As the key person and software architecture, I decided to use agile methodology which is  equal to learning launch tool. In this tool I used prototypes to test the functions (Sprints in Agile terms)  and once developed and tested properly for both logics and functions. I selected key functionalities in  initial phase to implement and then gradually designed the system step by step.

Application: -   An agile development methodology was adapted to implement the system, so small  modules were developed and installed in sub systems as sprints. Agile methodology was much helpful  to implement such a complex system by using iterative module implementation practice. Forming  several teams with managers who play key roles of the system, meeting frequently to get the  requirements, feedbacks and ideas helped a lot to make the system a success. All the data and  information is shared among each and every department, so passing chits and other paper based  materials are not currently using in the casino.

The software system process was started from its core functionality and gradually added

several functions to the system as sprints of agile methodology. While introducing some features and  modules, manual process of the relevant function had been substituted by the Software module and  removes it from the casino. I have managed to adapt to the new system from its previous manual  system by using this methodology. While implementing the process, stakeholders help in many ways  to do a successful implementation of ERP system. As the initial step of the learning launch, I decided  to measure the weight of the functionality of the system to identify the key elements of the system.  So I decided to design the customer database structure and Casino table database structure first. Then  implemented main functionalities such as adding customers and table’s data as sprints in order to  populate the database with the customer data which was nearly 12,000 customers at that time.

For the second learning launch, I managed to implement sub systems according to the weight and the  priority while interconnecting sub systems properly. We had frequent meetings, interviews with all  stakeholders to communicate all important things. From top management to the bottom line of the  casino staff attended actively to share their thoughts, feed backs etc. Special management meetings  were done by the CEO and Chairman to communicate some important key points regarding the system  implementation.

Insight: - I used learning launch tool to identify the requirements (Assumptions) and then  implemented those functionalities to test the assumptions. While the manual process was running I  compared and tested implemented functionality’s outputs and reports to ensure the integrity and the  accuracy. These testing process has been carried out many times and got certified by the account’s  department’s officials in many times. After implementing ERP system to cover all the main key roles,  then the stakeholders were came with different requirement to implement for their other business  needs of the casino. I had to implement several other features such as coupon management facilities,  Draw management facilities, bar management facility, Currency converter displays etc. Top  management tried to find many ways to analyze the casino data to predict some future growths  through the ERP system. Moving forward, in my future software development projects, I will use this  insight and experience to overcome some difficulties I have faced in this time.

Approach: - In the very complex and mission critical system such as casino, learning launch is the best  tool for the system design and implementation. I have done so many industrial systems and used many  design tools. An agile methodology is the best practice and it clearly describe the learning launch tool.  We can use prototype to learn the functionality and then can launch it after testing properly. In this  manner we can guide our design teams along the correct path without deviating from the targets.  After the each and every sprints we need to review the insights, results, outputs to learn and use the  reviews to develop the capability of the design team. Fast experiences will help to enhance the ability  of better understanding the problems, difficulties, complexities and will develop the value of the team  gradually. In the future, I will more focus on database structure and its future expansions space  because some stakeholders are changing their mindsets and trying to introduce sudden changes which  will highly affected to the structure of the database and the tables. Making changes will take a long  time and may slow down the process sometimes.


Learning launch Challenge : - I got the software system contract from a leading casino in Sri Lanka . My duty is to analyze the whole process which is totally manual and design fully automated software system to cover all the tasks which are carried out by the whole staff members of the casino . The casino was operating at the time I got the contract so , I needed to work with the running business and I had only myself to do the whole parts of system designing process . Only the networking part has been done properly and computers were installed in the required main places but server and storage was not purchased at that time . The casino is running 24 * 7 , so no system shut down or restart is allowed . All the functions of the Casino were carried out manually by the staff before introducing an automated system . All reports were generated by using excel sheets , all customer details have been maintained in a paper based files , all payments were issued on a paper based voucher system and so many chits were circulating among people in the casino for different purposes . To overcome those manual processes , new automated system is needed to be installed in the facility . As I initially identified , there were 8 sub - systems in the system and all sub systems should be interconnected to from a complete ERP system . I was given 6 months to complete the whole system . Selection : - As the key person and software architecture , I decided to use agile methodology which is equal to learning launch tool . In this tool I used prototypes to test the functions ( Sprints in Agile terms ) and once developed and tested properly for both logics and functions . I selected key functionalities in initial phase to implement and then gradually designed the system step by step . Application : - An agile development methodology was adapted to implement the system , so small modules were developed and installed in sub systems as sprints . Agile methodology was much helpful to implement such a complex system by using iterative module implementation practice . Forming several teams with managers who play key roles of the system , meeting frequently to get the requirements , feedbacks and ideas helped a lot to make the system a success . All the data and information is shared among each and every department , so passing chits and other paper based materials are not currently using in the casino . The software system process was started from its core functionality and gradually added several functions to the system as sprints of agile methodology . While introducing some features and modules , manual process of the relevant function had been substituted by the Software module and removes it from the casino . I have managed to adapt to the new system from its previous manual system by using this methodology . While implementing the process , stakeholders help in many ways to do a successful implementation of ERP system . As the initial step of the learning launch , I decided to measure the weight of the functionality of the system to identify the key elements of the system . So I decided to design the customer database structure and Casino table database structure first . Then implemented main functionalities such as adding customers and table ’s data as sprints in order to populate the database with the customer data which was nearly 12,000 customers at that time . For the second learning launch , I managed to implement sub systems according to the weight and the priority while interconnecting sub systems properly . We had frequent meetings , interviews with all stakeholders to communicate all important things . From top management to the bottom line of the casino staff attended actively to share their thoughts , feed backs etc . Special management meetings were done by the CEO and Chairman to communicate some important key points regarding the system implementation . Insight : - I used learning launch tool to identify the requirements ( Assumptions ) and then implemented those functionalities to test the assumptions . While the manual process was running I compared and tested implemented functionality ’s outputs and reports to ensure the integrity and the accuracy . These testing process has been carried out many times and got certified by the account ’s department ’s officials in many times . After implementing ERP system to cover all the main key roles , then the stakeholders were came with different requirement to implement for their other business needs of the casino . I had to implement several other features such as coupon management facilities , Draw management facilities , bar management facility , Currency converter displays etc . Top management tried to find many ways to analyze the casino data to predict some future growths through the ERP system . Moving forward , in my future software development projects , I will use this insight and experience to overcome some difficulties I have faced in this time . Approach : - In the very complex and mission critical system such as casino , learning launch is the best tool for the system design and implementation . I have done so many industrial systems and used many design tools . An agile methodology is the best practice and it clearly describe the learning launch tool . We can use prototype to learn the functionality and then can launch it after testing properly . In this manner we can guide our design teams along the correct path without deviating from the targets . After the each and every sprints we need to review the insights , results , outputs to learn and use the reviews to develop the capability of the design team . Fast experiences will help to enhance the ability of better understanding the problems , difficulties , complexities and will develop the value of the team gradually . In the future , I will more focus on database structure and its future expansions space because some stakeholders are changing their mindsets and trying to introduce sudden changes which will highly affected to the structure of the database and the tables . Making changes will take a long time and may slow down the process sometimes .