Roger Bowring

I have been a permanent employee of IBM South Africa in the field of Information Technology for the duration of my career, and hold a long standing and unbroken service record from 1997 - 2024.

In September 2021, IBM South Africa separated one of its business units - namely Kyndryl, from IBM Global Services which resulted in my employment being transferred accordingly.

In line with Kyndryl’s internal retirement policy, I am required to retire in July 2024.

Duration: 2009 - 2024 (To date)

Designation: IT Developer / Business Analyst

Division: Client Innovation Centre (CIC)

During this period, I have been managing an internal website known as DCAlive, which is dedicated to serving business and financial operational requirements. Contained within this website are many reports and applications which I developed, using the following:

• Microsoft Visual Professional Studio 2019
• SQL Server 2019 (SMS)
• SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)
• SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT - Report Designer)

To develop these applications, I used various technologies, one of them being Angular and the rest being Visual Basic, JavaScript and jQuery. The front-end pages were designed in Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2019, and the two main types of web pages which I made use of were ASPX and HTML5.

In addition, I maintain the three servers which host the DCAlive system. (Web server, Database server, Batch server)

Another primary role of mine in the CIC, is to support certain tools within a business management system now known as S4 (SAP Technology). This system was previously used by IBM South Africa and subsequently transitioned to Kyndryl. It was then replicated and refined according to new business models and criteria.

My roles and responsibilities also include adherence to internal compliance protocols with respect to internal data accuracy and security.

I also compile and facilitate training sessions for managers on the SAP Technology - labour claiming tool, when necessary.

Duration: 1997 - 2009

Designation: Business Analyst

Division: Business Management Services (BMS)

During this period, I worked in a global management system known as BMS, in which I managed various sub-systems. This system is used to track and control performance on a consistent and common basis throughout IBM Global Services. Based on models which focus on the operational and financial aspects of business, the system aims to establish globalisation, business discipline, process etiquette and consistency as well as financial profitability.

The system also incorporates workflow which manages IBM’s services worldwide. One of its crucial functions is to simultaneously track the business activities of a project, including financial aspects - from inception to completion.

My role included providing system support to the financial and operational units for IBM South Africa, across the following domains (but not limited to):

• Resources (deployment and utilisation)
• Costing / Billing of labour
• Management of departmental structures
• Allocation of resources
• Management of internal projects / contracts and associated projects
• Measurements and utilisation reporting
• Monitoring of service performance & results

Prior to a company going global, it requires transformation as multiple countries use different rules, implementations, interpretations and business process complexities. The purpose of BMS is to assist and manage this process in order to ensure standardisation which will ultimately establish and secure stable global services.

I also provided system support in the tracking of internal projects from start to finish.

• Identified technical issues according to design requirements and tested solutions.