Application Integration: Pilot Project to Implement a Financial Portfolio System in a Korean Bank

Abstract

This case describes a pilot project to implement a financial portfolio system (FPS) within Jwon Bank. (The case is based on a real-life organisation, although the identity of the organisation has been disguised at the organisation’s request.) A strategic IT review of Jwon Bank’s IT systems and architecture revealed that a lack of integration between IT systems was hampering the bank’s capability to meet its business vision. A key recommendation from the review was the development of an FPS that would enable customers to manage all their financial assets and access financial services from a single place. However, creating an FPS meant that Jwon Bank had to develop a strategic solution to meet the integration needs across the entire bank. Jwon Bank examined enterprise application integration (EAI) tools, and embarked on a pilot project to develop a prototype FPS and test the robustness of an EAI solution. The case highlights some of the management issues relating to integration projects of this nature, including strategic planning for integration, EAI tool selection and evaluation, and understanding of business process flow across divisional silos.