Best Practices & Benchmarks

CSIA’s “Best Practices & Benchmarks” Revision 3.0.1

The Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) embarked on a program in early 1995 to provide Business Best Practices & Benchmarks by Control Systems Integrators and for Control System Integrators for the express purpose of raising the image of our industry through self improvement. This collection of Best Practices & Benchmarks represents the third major revision since this program was started in 1995. Feedback from many member companies as well as clients from a broad range of industries has contributed enormously to the content of this document.

The third release adds System Development Lifecycle, Supporting Activities, adjusts scope of Project Management and significantly updates Human Resource Management. The Best Practices Committee is confident that these revised Best Practices & Benchmarks will raise the bar in our industry and will help the CSIA membership fulfill its mission, namely:

To bring successful system integration to the marketplace

Sections 1-4 (blue) represent corporate functions of the integrator which are not directly tied to generating revenue. These topics are common to almost all businesses, yet are tailored to issues that are important to successfully run an Integration company.

General Management – Includes the topics of Strategic Management, Organizational Structure, Facilities and Equipment, Computer Systems Management, and Corporate Risk Management.
Human Resources Management – Includes the topics of Administration, Recruitment and Selection, Performance Management, Training and Development, Compensation and Benefits, and Employee Communications.
Marketing, Business Development and Sales Management – Includes three areas indicated in this section title.
Financial Management – Include the topics of Measures of Financial Performance, Financial Planning, Billing Procedures, Management of Credit, Expenses, Cash & Security, Project Financial Reporting and Tax policy.

Sections 5-6 (orange) represent functions associated with generating revenue or directly managing those activities.

Project Management – Includes the topics of Contract Management, Procurement Management, Planning, Risk Management, Resource Management, Communications Management, Scope Management, Schedule Management, Budget Management, Change Management, Quality Management and Closure.
System Development Life cycle – Includes the topics of Internal kickoff, Requirements, Design, Development, Unit/Module & Integration Testing, Factory Acceptance Testing, System Shipping, Installation, Commissioning and Site Acceptance Testing.

Section 7 (yellow) represents functions focused on infrastructure that provide support for the activities in Sections 1 – 6.

Supporting Activities – Includes the topics of Process Development and Maintenance, Standards and Templates, Project Methodologies, Procurement Management, Risk Management, Configuration Management and Reuse Management.

Section 8 (yellow) represents the functions of ensuring both process and product compliance.

Quality Assurance Management – Includes the topics of Continuous, Measurable Improvements, Client Satisfaction Measurement, Client Service, and Project Quality Assurance.

Section Future (green) represents non-project, revenue-generating activities such as training, consulting and product development. These topics have not been directly addressed in this revision.

© Copyright 1997-2008 Control System Integrators Association -Revision 3 All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written permission of Control System Integrators Association