PARAGON Program Management System™ Enlisted to Help Streamline Project Management Systems

Oakland-based ViaNovus® Brings Project Intelligence to the General Services and Public Works Departments

San Diego County has a reputation for using private-sector business practices to improve delivery of public services. This innovative public agency is looking to PARAGON to help improve its project management process by facilitating project intelligence, a new way of working that takes a more integrated, total program approach that aids in managing cost and minimizing risk.

"More than two years ago, the County initiated a program for the improvement of its project approval and tracking systems – particularly the performance management and financial reporting aspects," said Jack Miller, Director of the County of San Diego's Department of General Services.

"We are anxious to move away from time-consuming manual processes to an automated system that will give the project manager more time to oversee the project with better information to assure successful outcomes," Miller added. "As a public agency, we are reshaping ourselves and taking a 'Best Practices' approach to our management methods, and we are confident that PARAGON will help."

The pilot implementation of the PARAGON Project Management System encompasses the County's Public Works and General Services (facilities capital and maintenance projects) Departments. The two departments have a FY1999/2000

Capital Improvement Program in excess of $322 million, with more than $1 billion in facility and public works projects identified for consideration in the next five years.

We are pleased the County of San Diego is implementing PARAGON and are confident that the system will significantly reduce the amount of time dedicated to reporting activity and improve the group's financial management capabilities," said ViaNovus President Schone Malliet. "Ultimately, the County is accountable to its taxpayers, and PARAGON's ability to help manage cost and minimize risk will be invaluable in answering to this group."

ViaNovus is a leading provider of program and project management software and services that introduce the concept of project intelligence into the traditional management process. Its premier product, the PARAGON Program Management System, is being used in construction projects worth more than $50 billion. Initially developed by project controls engineers with firsthand project management experience in the construction industry, PARAGON has evolved and its capabilities have been expanded for use by corporations managing large complex business projects.