This page includes a selection of case studies from our clients so that you can see how our software is being used in different industries located around the world. If you are currently using our software and you would like to submit a case study for consideration, please send us an email.

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CLICK ON THE NAME OF THE ORGANISATION BELOW TO SEE THEIR CASE STUDY:

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THE CHALLENGE
The objective of our RMS System was to provide a central resource where all information pertaining to and communication about risks by Management could be stored. It was envisaged that our RMS System would become a core computer application used by management of Provet when looking at risks in context of consequences, controls, audit approaches and self assessment of risks at individual branch level.

We already had a great deal of information on identified risks to date. We also had a great deal of information in Management reports, bits of paper, and people’s heads. The objective was to gather all that information into a Risk Management System so it could be available to all key stake holders within Provet’s Management team.

THE PROCESS
Through a detailed analysis of many risk management software options, ERA from Methodware was selected as the most appropriate option to:

• Record details of risks, controls and priorities and show any variations over time;
• Record risk treatments and associated resource requirements;
• Record details of incidents, loss events and the lessons learned;
• Track accountability for risks, controls and treatments;
• Track progress and record the completion of risk treatment actions;
• Allow progress against the risk management plan to be measured; and
• Trigger monitoring and assurance activity.

BENEFITS
The benefits have been the development of a fully integrated Risk Management process throughout the company. The managers benefit from the cross section of information gathered across the group of companies in building a very comprehensive and easy to work with system. The fact that reports can be shared through Microsoft Word and information collated can be easily up-loaded means Methodware is a very time efficient means of keeping track of and controlling risks.

PRO AUDIT - THE BEST

PRo Audit has changed our way of auditing in total, not the methodology we use but the time we spend on working papers and especially preparing the final report has been cut drastically. PRo Audit has helped us in using our "Risk based audit" process to its fullest by helping us focus on the high risk areas. Another big advantage of using Pro Audit is that your audit report is now done straight from Pro Audit to Word, in the format you like and ready to send out.

We have now also utilised the "Step Method" during our regional audits with great results. This was possible due to the fact that we did the planning upfront, developed the audit programs in the step method and used this during the regional audit. We covered a lot more in half the time and of course it is so easy to use.

The best benefit of PRo Audit is the "Consolidation Tool" and we did not even know about it when we bought Pro Audit. This helps us to keep track of the status of all our open findings on a monthly basis. Thanks to the "List savings option" this is done in a jiffy. We currently use this consolidation report for all our outstanding findings to report straight to the Directors.

Well, I tried to capture the high level benefits, but can go on for hours, as I truly believe in this audit software.

METHODWARE USER FORUM

We had a very successful first Methodware user forum at Vodaworld and I believe that this will grow from strength to strength as we are going to involve and persuade all the companies to be involved in the forums to come.

I can't wait for the next forum, as I have so much to share and need to hear other people's stories. Up till now we have all fought our Methodware battles alone in our companies, but know we can finally share other peoples solutions to the problems we are struggling with. Another benefit is to see other Methodware products in real life. You never know what you need and may be trying to develop something that is already available. During the first user forum we discussed the benefits and reasons for this forum (this can be obtained from CQS).

My last comment as Chairperson for this forum is that there are only benefits by attending the next Methodware user forum. Hope to see you all there.

Wilna Meiring,
Group Internal Audit, Vodacom Group

Tata Engineering has a state of the art approach to audit and have previously used various auditing tools and techniques to improve quality and enhance productivity. They were the first users of Audit Command Language (ACL) in Asia and one of the first users of PRo Audit in India.

THE CHALLENGE
To lead a team of 16 multi-disciplinary auditors in audits across Management, Financial, Operational and System audits. To then carry out compliance and substantive testing in relation to these audits. To update findings, prepare Audit reports and recommendations and finally to track the implementation status of these.

THE SOLUTION
Tata Engineering follow a risk-based approach for most of their audits and so PRo Audit Advisor was the most appropriate tool. A Business Process Cycle Approach is used for auditing requiring the consolidation of several individual audits.

In 2001, the audit team began using PRo Audit Advisor for the execution of all audits. It ensures that a step-by-step approach is followed to provide a methodical audit process approach. Wherever the risk based approach is not used, ie Regulatory Compliance Audits, a Program Step approach is taken using PRo Audit to facilitate a second audit.

Features including the follow up and closure of audit findings and recommendations are a particularly useful prompt for Tata Engineering.

BUSINESS BENEFITS
Implementing PRo Audit has brought in objectivity to the risk and control assessment and provided a consolidated overview of the risk profile for the entire business process. The various graphical outputs have helped in directing efforts on high risk/exposure areas giving a consolidated profile of the entire business process. The Business Process Cycle Audits have been consolidated using the consolidation tool within PRo Audit Advisor.

A reporting format was developed to match Tata Engineering's auditing requirements so that information can be updated during the course of the audit and the audit report can be automatically generated. As a result the report writing effort and time saving to the auditors has given them a tremendous boost in productivity.

THE COMPANY
Development and Infrastructure Bank of Malaysia or Bank Pembangunan dan Infrastruktur Malaysia Berhad (BPIMB), formerly known as Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Berhad was incorporated on 28 November 1973 and commenced its operation on 8 June 1974.

BPIMB provides both conventional and Islamic financing facilities in order to assist entrepreneurs to start, expand, modernise or diversify their business. Focus is given to companies in the manufacturing sector and manufacturing-related service sector. In 1999, with mandate from the Government, the BPIMB started its financing activity for the nation's infrastructure projects. Besides extending financial facilities, BPIMB also provides entrepreneurial training, advisory and rental of factory lots to promising entrepreneurs. You can visit the Development and Infrastructure Bank of Malaysia's website at http://www.bpimb.com.my

THE CHALLENGE
To lead the Operational Risk Management team in implementing Operational Risk Management based on the Basel II Guidelines. To implement Basel II 10 Sound Principles and to create risk awareness across the organisation. To automate the risk management process, populate a loss events database, monitor progress, prepare risk management reports and risk treatments and finally to track the implementation status of these.

THE SOLUTION
BPIMB incorporates the AS/NZS 4360 Risk Management Standard for their risk management process and Basel II 10 Sound Principles.

In 2002, the ORM team began using ERA for the ORM implementation.

"We are continuously building the loss event database and have started identification of potential operational risks with the view of mitigating and avoiding them using the ERA methodology."

Encik Abdul Hamid Ibrahim
Manager, Operational Risk Section

We purchased PRo Audit Advisor in November 2000 for our Internal Audit Department.

Since the implementation of Version 2 in February 2001 it has been used as the basis for our entire internal audit programmes, working papers and internal audit reports. The implementation phase did require a lot of time and input from the audit team, and the question was asked whether it was worthwhile investing time in developing audit templates.

Since implementation, we built a huge database, and have improved and developed additional templates to be used for different audits.

It is safe to say that by implementing PRo Audit Advisor and spending the time and effort to do it right the first time, the time taken to prepare for an audit and finalizing the internal audit report has been reduced by more than 40%. This saving allows for the Internal Audit Department to spend more time on actual audit work or to take on additional audit assignments.

The Internal Audit Department has been commended by the Audit Committee and the Board for the high standard and quality of internal audit reports.

Towards the end of 2001 we upgraded to Version 3. The upgrade was done without any problems and the conversion of our templates to the new version went smoothly.

The changes and improvements made to PRo Audit Advisor Version 3 makes the software more user- friendly and further improves the quality of reporting. The layout of the different screens is excellent.

We, as an Internal Audit Department, would be unlikely to be able to deliver work of the same standard and quality in the same time as what we were able to with PRo Audit Advisor.

And lastly, we extend our thanks to CQS for their support not only in implementing our Methodware product, but also their continued and effortless support whilst running this software.
Pieter Booyens
Group Internal Audit Manager

THE COMPANY
Health Services Australia is a government business enterprise established in 1997 focusing primarily on occupational health and safety, workplace and travel health and medical assessments. HSA has offices in all states and territories in Australia.

THE CHALLENGE
The internal audit function in HSA is classed as a "small audit shop" as it is staffed by one permanent employee, with additional resources contracted as required. It is therefore essential that there is effective and efficient use of resources with the performance of audits in all offices of the company.

Internal Audit required software tools that assisted with the planning and performance of the annual audit work program (capture, analysis, reporting and follow-up of information gathered as a result of audits performed).

One of the key issues faced by a small audit shop was the efficient and effective recording of audit findings to enable the recording of management responses appropriate reporting to the Audit Committee, and the follow-up and monitoring of the implementation of audit findings. A small audit shop also needs access to prompt and timely assistance from a software supplier to solve problems and assist with the operation and use of the product.

THE SOLUTION
After evaluation of the available software tools, Methodware's Auditor's Software Toolset (PRoAudit Advisor, Planning Advisor, ERA^LITE and Cobit Advisor) was selected as the preferred application.

PRoAudit Advisor has enabled the implementation of electronic workpapers for all audits performed. The key output of the electronic workpapers is a summary of Audit Findings, which is e-mailed to management for inclusion of their comments and returned to Internal Audit. The software enables the automatic upload of the management comments. Methodware has assisted with the design of a report that enables the automatic production of information that is submitted to the Audit Committee. All audit findings have been compiled into a master record on PRoAudit that enables the follow-up and monitoring of the implementation of the audit recommendation.

The Planning Advisor is used to assist in the development and assessment of the three year Strategic Internal Audit Plan and the Annual Work Program. The package enables the auditor to evaluate all possible reviews based on a uniform assessment methodology, which was tailored to suit the operations of the organisation.

Methodware has always provided quality and timely support for all system problems, which is easily accessible through a special telephone number. Staff always welcome the users suggestions for improvements to the various products and where necessary, appropriate changes have been implemented.

Glenn Winter
Internal Audit Manager

COMPANY OUTLINE

The Ministry of Health aims to ensure that the health and disability system works for New Zealanders. It is the Government's primary advisor on health policy and disability support services. The Ministry:

• Provides policy advice on improving health outcomes, reducing inequalities, and increasing participation
• Acts as the Minister's agent
• Monitors the performance of District Health Boards, and other health sector Crown entities
• Implements, administers and enforces relevant legislation and regulations
• Provides health information and processing payments
• Facilitates collaboration and coordination within and across sectors
• Provides nationwide planning and maintenance of service frameworks
• Plans and funds public health, disability support services and other service areas that are retained centrally

THE CHALLENGE
In July 2001 the Ministry of Health and the Health Funding Agency merged as one organisation. During the transition stage, risk reporting was undertaken by two separate systems. Once the merger was completed it was decided to obtain one system that would meet the needs of the new organisation.

THE SOLUTION
The Ministry of Health purchased Methodware's Enterprise Risk Assessor. The flexibility of the system to meet the new organisation's needs was evident when designing the framework. Standardisation of existing reporting in the system and the ability to design your own reports was another benefit. Since its implementation the Ministry has reviewed its original framework and has redeveloped it further after consultation with Methodware.

THE BENEFITS
Consistency of language used; reporting and graphical presentation have resulted in reports that are tailored to meet the needs of the various Senior Management Teams within the Ministry, the Executive Team of the Ministry and the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee.

COMPANY OUTLINE
Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, is a 330-bed tertiary acute care hospital and a chain of the Parkway Group Healthcare facilities, providing high quality medical and nursing care locally and internationally.

THE CHALLENGE
The dynamic growth of the hospital business is equally challenged by the need to continually improve on its quality management through a risk management approach in managing healthcare risks issues, in especially the clinical and safety risks.

THE SOLUTION
GIMC uses Enterprise Risk Assessor to assist in systematic data collection and assessment on risk issues, controls and treatment follow-ups.

Ms Tan Tang Peng
Risk Manager

COMPANY OUTLINE

Planning SA is a South Australian Government agency that seeks to facilitate balanced State development and provide an integrated system of planning strategy, development policy and development assessment.

THE CHALLENGE

About the same time as organisations were grappling with Year 2000 compliance issues, South Australian Government agencies were called upon to adopt a structured approach to the management of risk. Having identified and analysed business processes and applications during the Y2K work, Planning SA was well placed to utilise that knowledge and introduce a risk management framework capable of regularly assessing the agency's business and day-to-day operations in a comprehensive way. The challenge was to identify the best and simplest means of assessing risk, identifying controls, capturing, manipulating and reporting on the assessment data and providing a consistent approach to risk management across the agency.

THE SOLUTION

Methodware's Enterprise Risk Assessor was selected as the most appropriate application to meet Planning SA's risk management requirements. Planning SA was the first agency in the South Australian Government to pilot the software and it is now being used extensively in a number of other key public sector agencies.

THE BENEFITS

Planning SA has developed 8 standard risk assessment models covering operational activity, business planning, projects (major and minor), disaster recovery, OHS&W, information security management, records management and corporate governance. The software facilitates the preparation of executive summaries and reports, consolidation of risk assessments to provide an agency perspective, clear graphical representation of assessment outcomes, grading of risks, filtering of assessments to more clearly focus on the more sensitive areas and it enables commentary and notes to be incorporated for future reference.

Planning SA uses the software to create assessment forms in Word format which are e-mailed to those officers identified to undertake a particular risk assessment. The assessment is conducted simply by those officers selecting a certain rating or option from drop down boxes in the Word form, saving the work and returning the form for processing and report generation by the software. There is no requirement for any risk assessment officer to learn how to use the software but there is nevertheless the option to distribute the software's end user models throughout an organisation should that be deemed to be the more effective means of managing risk.

Dean Frewin

Business Services Officer and Risk Manager

NGC

COMPANY OUTLINE
NGC is one of New Zealand's leading energy infrastructure and services companies. It was formed in 1967 and became publicly listed in 1992. NGC's principal businesses are Gas Transmission, Distribution, Transportation, Processing, Supply, Wholesaling, Metering and LPG. The company supplies gas throughout the North Island of New Zealand.

THE CHALLENGE
NGC realised the importance of having risk management as an integral element of the organisation's management culture. To help achieve this, the company wanted an AS/NZS4360 based tool, particularly an holistic applied management system which would:

• Help assess various risks (Health & Safety, Environmental, Financial, Public Relations, Security of Supply) to the company as a whole in a single risk assessment methodology
• Enable the risks and their correlated controls to be easily audited by a third party
• Issue clear reports for The Board of NGC highlighting the risks with an assessment of their potential impact to the corporate position
• Allow the management and evaluation of existing controls and their effectiveness
• Ensure voluntary compliance met or exceeded the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZSX) Listing Rules to include Board level sign-off of Internal Controls
• Raise the awareness of risks in NGC so all line and departmental managers assess and manage risks as part of their normal routines

At the same time as NGC was assessing their risk management software needs, the 2001 New Zealand Winter Energy Crisis began and the company withdrew from the electricity market after suffering financial and public relations setbacks. This reinforced NGC's earlier decision to invest in operational risk management software.

THE SOLUTION
NGC purchased ERA from Methodware in 2001.

THE BENEFITS
Applied Management Tool
Rather than being a tool solely for risk and audit managers, ERA is being used at NGC as an Applied Management Tool to assist the decision making by managers at all levels in the company. Chris Peace, Manager, Risk and Assurance at NGC, believes that using ERA has enabled the company to "strengthen our ability to manage risks" leading to a point "where managers of business units can predict where best to focus their efforts and reallocate their resources to more appropriate areas".

Using ERA has encouraged the identification of risks by everyone in NGC, ensuring that being aware of risks is a part of the organisation's culture, thus helping to prevent injury causing and loss making events from occurring.

Chris Peace says that ERA has assisted NGC to "intelligently and sensitively evaluate controls that are in place and refocus controls to areas of higher risk"; enabling the company to understand and accept diverse risks from a common platform.

REPORTING
ERA has enabled NGC to meet changes to the reporting rules for the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZSX). It has also enabled the company's Board to receive detailed quarterly reports on all risks to a predefined level of importance and likelihood of occurring. Having board reporting to such a detailed level meets international regulations and recommendations (Sarbanes-Oxley, Basel) that require that boards are aware of all risks that could pose a substantial threat to the health and wellbeing of their company.

FUTURE PLANS
NGC are planning to upgrade to the Java/Client solution of ERA. The Java/Client version will ensure that ERA becomes even more accessible throughout the company, helping NGC resolve problems with people working in isolation. Java/Client also allows custom-built screens that only display the information users need to carry out their particular tasks, with all unnecessary functionality being removed from their screen.

Chris Peace
Manager, Risk and Assurance at NGC

THE COMPANY
A large Australasian electricity generating and retailing company. The name of the company cannot be revealed due to company policy.

THE CHALLENGE
To replace an Excel based approach to risk management with a 4360-consistent and multi-functional tool that supports operational, strategic and project risk assessments.

THE SOLUTION
The company purchased Enterprise Risk Assessor - ERA from Methodware in early 2002.

ERA has given increased flexibility with management of risks. The Risk Management team can now rapidly collate, assess and report on risks from business managers throughout the company without having to create risk management or software experts. The company's Corporate Risk Manager said this on the impact ERA has made to his work:

ERA has also enabled the inclusion of semi-qualitative risks such as Health & Safety and Public Relations in assessments. Risks were previously collated and assessed using Microsoft Excel. The Excel approach however, was completely quantitative and didn't take into account risks that could potentially be extremely damaging to the company, but didn't necessarily have a dollar value.

Project Managers throughout this leading energy company can now use, or be supported through, ERA in planning their projects. A templated risk model has been created that can be used to quickly execute a risk workshop for project managers. This template contains the main perceived categories and risks and the managers then modify it for their own particular project.

Project managers are also using ERA as a decision making tool to assess best options for their projects. Where there are various possible methods to complete a project the risks for each method are analysed and the option with the lowest overall risks then chosen.

BUSINESS BENEFITS
Through using ERA, the risk management team are finding their time is being used more productively; they are also getting increased 'buy in' from business and project managers who are beginning to realise how valuable ERA can be to them. Managers throughout the company are now using Era as an applied management tool to provide them with detailed information and analysis before making decisions.

This case study was provided by the Corporate Risk Manager