3S helps Syngenta focus on .NET

Software System Solutions (3S) have been helping Syngenta to create a global competence group for .NET. The initiative involves 14 people from different parts of the world with 3S taking up the official lead for the project. The aim is to ensure that Syngenta exploits the use of .NET in the most effective way in order to streamline application development.

Microsoft .NET has become a strategic technology for Syngenta. It is seen as the primary development platform for future applications (both web based and client-server systems). With many .NET projects already underway the company wanted to speed up the learning curve of teams adapting the new technology. Syngenta also wanted to align the efforts of the different teams so that a consistent approach would be used for application development within the company.

In order to get things rolling quickly and effectively, Syngenta chose 3S to lead-up the new initiative. Our job was to build-up everything from scratch, obtain the deliverables for the company, and then hand over responsibility to an internal lead. This approach allowed 3S to act as a catalyst for obtaining results without becoming bogged down due to internal politics.

The competence group we formed comprised mostly of internal people from different regions and business functions. Together we created guidelines, best practises, demos and tips for how to develop .NET applications. We built a central repository for components, web parts and project information. Discussion forums were added to allow teams to discuss issues and ask questions to other developers. We evaluated tools and components and then made recommendations for which products should be purchased. We also performed code reviews and project health checks in order to improve project quality.

We are currently creating a project framework that will allow applications to be developed faster and more consistently. All of these pieces are brought together within a web site that acts as the focal point for the group and can be accessed by anyone within the corporation. (see below)

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Syngenta now has a solid base from which to utilise .NET and fully capitalise on the technology. Internal employee’s are behind the initiative because they were involved from the beginning and helped shape its outcome. The company benefits from quicker, more effective application development along with lower maintenance costs for software projects.

People around the company now know exactly where to go to find .NET related information. It’s a good example of how knowledge can be focused and managed in order to improve the efficiency with which ‘knowledge work’ is performed within a company.