In late December 2006, the German Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) commissioned a consortium consisting of Siemens Business Services (SBS) and IBM to modernize and manage its non-military information and communications technology (“white IT”) under the HERKULES project.The HERKULES project is designed to update the Armed Forces’ data centres, software and applications, PCs, telephones, and voice and data networks to modern standards. This includes maintenance and support of desktop software, SAP software as the large-scale back end, web-based applications belonging to the intranet of the Bundeswehr, and communication programs such as IBM’s Lotus Notes. Siemens will be responsible for operating and modernizing the decentralized systems at more than 1,500 locations in Germany, encompassing 140,000 PCs, 7,000 servers, 300,000 fixed-network telephones and 15,000 mobile phones. In terms of objectives (Newman: 2001), the BWI IT was created predominantly to bear the enormous financial upfront investment of the project. The yearly parliamentary approved defence budgets were neither flexible nor big enough to engage a project of this dimension.
The Social Science Institute of the Bundeswehr (SOWI) has been charged with the evaluation of HERKULES. In my functional capacity I have had the opportunity to contribute actively to the performance evaluation to date. This paper outlines the scope and schedule of HERKULES and identifies the major (dis-)advantages of this PPP compared to unilateral public policy implementation. Special focus is given to the question of risk sharing and the project inherent partnership dynamics. Hereafter, potential room for improvement and areas of concern are being analysed. The paper concludes with a brief lessons learned chapter.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- The HERKULES project
- Implementation of HERKULES
- Risk sharing in HERKULES
- Partnership Dynamics
- Evaluation
- Areas of concern and room for improvement
- What constitutes the core of public services?
- Cost control and efficiency gains
- Public Involvement
- Lessons learned
- References
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the HERKULES project, a large-scale public-private partnership (PPP) in Germany, focusing on its implementation, risk sharing, partnership dynamics, and areas for improvement. It compares this PPP model to traditional public sector approaches and analyzes its efficacy.
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the Public Sector
- Risk Allocation and Management in PPPs
- Partnership Dynamics and Collaboration in Large-Scale Projects
- Efficiency and Cost Control in Public Service Delivery
- Evaluation methodologies for large-scale PPP projects
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The HERKULES project: This chapter introduces the HERKULES project, a significant public-private partnership (PPP) between the German Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) and a consortium of Siemens and IBM. It details the structure of the partnership, with the newly formed BWI Informationstechnik GmbH managing the modernization and maintenance of the Bundeswehr's non-military IT infrastructure. The chapter highlights the project's scale (approximately EUR 7.1 billion) and its ambition to modernize the Armed Forces' IT systems, encompassing data centers, software, hardware, and networks. The chapter emphasizes the project’s departure from traditional government-only IT provision, introducing the concept of a significant "entanglement of bureaucratic and private interests" and its implications for risk assessment and management, setting the stage for subsequent chapters that analyze the project's success and challenges.
Implementation of HERKULES: This chapter describes the phased implementation of the HERKULES project, outlining the three stages of migration, integration, and operations. It details the complexities of transitioning from the existing IT infrastructure to the new system, highlighting the scale of the undertaking and the logistical challenges involved in managing the update of 140,000 PCs, 7,000 servers, and other equipment across numerous locations. The chapter showcases the implementation plan's timeline and key milestones, underscoring the collaborative nature of the project and the necessary coordination between the public and private sectors. The transition represents a substantial departure from traditional government-led IT provision, offering insights into the management of large-scale IT modernization projects.
Areas of concern and room for improvement: This chapter analyzes potential areas for improvement and outstanding concerns related to the HERKULES project. It will likely discuss challenges encountered during implementation, potential risks that materialized, and areas where the partnership could be optimized. The discussion will probably encompass lessons learned regarding risk sharing, partnership dynamics, cost management, and public involvement. This chapter concludes the main body of the text by highlighting crucial issues needing further consideration in similar future endeavors.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), Risk Sharing, Partnership Dynamics, IT Modernization, Public Sector Reform, Cost Efficiency, Evaluation, Defence, Germany, HERKULES project, Bundeswehr.
HERKULES Project: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the HERKULES project?
The HERKULES project was a large-scale public-private partnership (PPP) in Germany between the German Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) and a consortium of Siemens and IBM. Its goal was to modernize the Bundeswehr's non-military IT infrastructure, encompassing data centers, software, hardware, and networks. The project involved a significant investment of approximately EUR 7.1 billion and represented a departure from traditional government-only IT provision.
What were the main objectives of the HERKULES project evaluation?
The main objective of the provided document is to evaluate the HERKULES project, focusing on its implementation, risk sharing, partnership dynamics, and areas for improvement. It compares the PPP model to traditional public sector approaches and analyzes its efficacy.
How was the HERKULES project implemented?
The implementation of the HERKULES project was a phased approach involving three stages: migration, integration, and operations. The transition involved updating 140,000 PCs, 7,000 servers, and other equipment across numerous locations, highlighting the logistical challenges of such a large-scale IT modernization project. The collaborative nature and coordination between the public and private sectors were crucial aspects of the implementation.
What are the key themes explored in the evaluation of the HERKULES project?
Key themes include Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the public sector, risk allocation and management in PPPs, partnership dynamics and collaboration in large-scale projects, efficiency and cost control in public service delivery, and evaluation methodologies for large-scale PPP projects.
What were some areas of concern or room for improvement identified in the HERKULES project?
The document highlights that a chapter dedicated to areas of concern and room for improvement will discuss challenges encountered during implementation, risks that materialized, and areas where the partnership could be optimized. This would likely encompass lessons learned regarding risk sharing, partnership dynamics, cost management, and public involvement.
What are the key takeaways or lessons learned from the HERKULES project?
The document promises a "Lessons Learned" section which would likely summarize the successes and challenges of the HERKULES project, offering valuable insights for future large-scale IT modernization projects and public-private partnerships.
What is the structure of the provided document?
The document provides a comprehensive overview including a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries (for the main sections), and keywords. This makes it easy to navigate and understand the core aspects of the HERKULES project evaluation.
What are the key words associated with the HERKULES project and its evaluation?
Key words include Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), Risk Sharing, Partnership Dynamics, IT Modernization, Public Sector Reform, Cost Efficiency, Evaluation, Defence, Germany, HERKULES project, and Bundeswehr.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Dipl.-Pol. Michael Pietsch (Autor:in), 2011, The HERKULES project, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/210981
