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CAMR

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↓ CAMR Case Study

Based at Porton Down in Wiltshire, CAMR is the operating arm of the Microbiological Research Authority (a special health authority reporting to the UK Department of Health).  Its role is to conduct research on microbiological hazards associated with healthcare and to develop and manufacture diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic products.  There are 440 personnel employed here, the majority of them based in scientific divisions.

In late 2001 there was a growing realisation that CAMR's business system MATRIX which had been in place for many years was "nearing the end of its useful life".  This, coupled with the notification by the supplier, MDIS, that support for the product was going to be withdrawn, meant that Alan Stapley, Director of Finance and Human Resources, was faced with the difficult job of not only assessing what options were available but also actually determining what the real business requirements for a new system were.

This process was made more complicated by the fact that as part of the public sector there are stringent rules and guidelines set down by HM Treasury which have to be adhered to before spending is authorised.  All preliminary investigative work was geared towards presenting a business case to acquire the necessary funding for a systems replacement project.

CCL suggested that the first step should be to conduct a detailed Business Review which explored all the options available to CAMR and resulted in a Statement of Key Requirements.

"CCL's consultant Rob Fishburn's clear understanding of our business enabled him to focus our team's thoughts and distil from their ambitious ‘wish list' a sensible and realistic Statement of Key Requirements."

Having initially sent this document to a number of suppliers CCL were able, using their CCL-ITTM methodology, to narrow this down to 5 serious contenders who were invited to come and present to CAMR.  The demonstrations that followed gave the CAMR team an excellent understanding of the capabilities of more recent technologies and the associated spend required.

Before the project could progress further it was announced that the Department of Health is creating a new body The Health Protection Agency, of which CAMR will form part, with effect from April 2003. 

However the work done to date will from a valuable part of assisting the new HPA in formulating its IT strategy and infrastructure in the early days of its existence.  CCL looks forward to being able to assist further in due course!

"CCL brought a structure and clarity to our meetings which assisted us to draw out from us the true requirements of the business."

Alan Stapley, Director of Finance & Human Resources

CAMR Centre for Applied Microbiology & Research