Stewart N H Mackie
MCSD FRSA MSc MA
Senior .NET Developer &
Software Development Manager
Coventry and Warwickshire, UK
Experienced C# developer, senior manager, software solutions
analyst, web developer and marketing applications consultant. Currently the
hands-on development manager of Adept Management Ltd. Previously leader of the
web/software development team for Structured Training Ltd and DotWorld Ltd.
Spent many years building up the SPA group of Computer Aided Sales and
Marketing consultancies.
For further details, please email me at sm@snhm.com
or call 07840 835274.
Summary
Key Achievements
·
Led the design, development and
delivery of the ADePT Design Suite,
a ground-breaking suite of windows and web software.
·
Created the software for a
major new elearning product
‘Learning World’, including a Learning Management System & Content
Production/Delivery System.
·
Designed and produced a web
based 360 Appraisal System, now used
by several major companies around the world, including Siemens and Diamdel.
·
Developed interactive advisory
web sites powered by an expert system
engine.
·
Developed and sold the world’s
first commercial retail location model
software.
·
Conceived and built The
Marketing Machine, a suite of modelling software that, as Mosaic Systems, became the
·
Created & managed a successful software modelling business,
recruiting a team of 20 graduate consultants to use the software for project
work and license it to clients.
·
Sold this market modelling
business to CCN (now Experian).
·
Designed and built Journey-Plan, the world’s first
integrated sales territory optimisation, journey planning and call scheduling
system, the rights to which were then sold to CACI Inc.
Commercial/Management Skills
·
Setting up a software
development team from scratch and running its day-to-day operation;
·
Creating successful market
analysis and salesforce automation businesses;
·
Formulating business strategy
& running the day to day operations of a company.
Technical Skills
·
Developing complex OO windows
applications and web sites in C# 2.0,
SQL Server 2005, ASP.NET 2.0 and Visual Studio 2005;
·
Developing windows based design
management software;
·
Developing web based HR and
elearning systems;
·
Mathematical modelling,
database modelling and statistical analysis;
·
Running market analysis, OR and
GIS projects using MapInfo, Tactician & Mosaic Systems.
Current
Position
Software Development Manager and Senior C# Developer of Adept Management Ltd, Coventry, UK
(from June 2007).
Previous Positions
·
Developer, Retail Division, E.On (2007).
·
Proprietor of ORSM Consulting (2005-2006).
·
Product Development Manager of Predaptive OD Ltd and Technical
Solutions Director of DotWorld
Communications Limited (2000-2005), Technical Director of Drivetime Software in USA,
Non-executive director of SPA Marketing Systems Limited (1997-2000).
·
Development/Commercial
Director, Sales Performance Analysis
Ltd (SPA) (1991-96).
·
Managing Director of SPA Marketing Systems Ltd (1988-90).
·
Technical Director of SPA
Marketing Systems Ltd (1984-87).
·
Senior Consultant with CACI Inc Market Analysis Division
(1982-84).
·
Computer Manager for Market Location Ltd (now Wegener DM)
(1981-82).
·
Principal Consultant at the Unit for Retail Planning Information
(now a part of MapInfo Inc) (1978-80).
·
Principal Planning Officer in
the
·
Consultant with the Local Government Operational Research Unit
(1969-75).
Current Position
For the past two years, I have worked as Development Manager for Adept Management Ltd, an international
design management consultancy with major construction and manufacturing clients
in the
I have set up and led a small team of developers in the creation
of a brand-new suite of ground–breaking design management software: Adept Design Builder and Adept Design Manager
are windows products written in C# .NET
2.0, using Visual Studio 2005.
There is also an online component comprising a Design Manager extranet and
database driven web service (using SQL
Server 2005). These are written in C# and ASP.NET 2.0. We have also developed an integration engine, which
enables our software to synchronize with the major scheduling packages - Primavera, Asta PowerProject and Microsoft
Project.
The suite of products is explained fully at http://www.adeptmanagement.com/amltechnologies,
the online extranet
Manager is at https://www.adeptdesignmanager.com
and a 30 day trial msi package of the windows products can be downloaded from the
public site at http://www.adeptmanagement.com/amltechnologies/downloads.html
.
We have adopted an agile,
test-driven approach to the
development process. A prototype of the suite was created in just three months.
The prototype modelling product (Adept Design Builder) was then used to plan
the design of the subsequent product, the first version of which was released
on time and under budget just six months later.
Once the software was released I submitted it for testing by an
independent Microsoft-approved company, and consequently was able to get Adept
accepted as a Microsoft Certified
Partner.
Version control is handled by Perforce,
and the automated build process by Cruise
Control. We use the Aladdin
Software Rights Management system to license the software using Hasp keys, the Gemini Issue Management system to track
bugs and progress on new features, and a Wiki
to keep a central knowledge base of our development and production processes
and procedures.
I have been a very hands-on manager at Adept, involved in all
areas of management, recruitment, development, production and support, whilst
still devoting 60-80 per cent of my time to coding and testing. Design Patterns have been used
extensively (especially the Command pattern) in the creation of our common class
libraries and third party components where appropriate (particularly Component
One) for aspects of the GUI and reporting. I have written most of the C# code
for the Adept Design Manager classes.
Previous Positions
Before joining Adept, I spent 7 years designing and building
complex, database driven intranets and extranets. These were built to a
standard DNA three layer architecture on a mainly Microsoft platform using:
·
IIS as the web server.
·
SQL Server 2000 or Oracle 8i as the database server.
·
COM Object DLLs written in VB6 for
a data wrapper and business layer objects.
·
Active Server Pages or ASP.NET written in VB.NET,
VBScript or C# (server side), Javascript (client side) and HTML for rendering the presentation
layer at the browser end.
I have been heavily involved in the full product development life
cycle:
·
Design – producing data models,
analysing the business logic with clients, liaising with graphic designers and
other developers to turn web page concept images into HTML and ASP code.
·
Develop – writing and running T-SQL
and PL/SQL scripts to create tables and stored procedures, coding DLLs in
Visual Basic, writing HTML and ASP with Visual InterDev and a text editor.
·
Debug – including unit testing on
local servers and system testing on test servers.
·
Deploy – porting the system to either
our own or client hosted production servers, and training the administrators in
the system’s ongoing management.
I have been supported by graphic designers and javascript
programmers in creating the front end web pages. Apart from that, I have been
the sole analyst, DBA and developer on many of the web projects that I have
worked on.
DotWorld Communications Limited (2000-2005)
From September 2000 to February 2005, I was the Technical
Solutions Director of the web design company DotWorld Communications Ltd (see http://www.dotworld.com), and, since March
2004, the Technical Products Manager for DotWorld’s sister companies Predaptive
OD Ltd (see http://www.predaptive.com)
and Structured Training Ltd (see http://www.structuredtraining.com).
I helped to guide the technical direction of the company,
particularly in applying my extensive knowledge of emerging technologies to the
development of DotWorld’s intellectual capital.
The three main strands of work that I have done are:
·
Consultancy and mentoring – for
example, helping a client set up an internal web development team, analysing their
underwriting processes, and building them a decision tree for risk assessment.
·
Bespoke web site projects for clients – for
example, building members and suppliers extranets for a buying society,
re-designing the architecture and database structure of an extranet for a
leasing company and assisting with its coding, helping to design and code a
complex holiday/absence booking intranet.
·
Product development of browser based HR and elearning systems – primarily the ‘Learning World’ elearning system, and ‘360
Insight’, the online 360 appraisal system.
I have worked on bespoke projects with a number of major blue chip
clients, including Diamdel, SFS (Siemens Financial Services), Experian, Forte Hotels and NMBS
(the National Merchant Buying Society). I have been involved in customising
‘Learning World’ and ‘360 Insight’ for several clients, including Halma, Diamdel, Siemens, Experian, Benenden Health Care and Hoare’s
Bank.
I have also completed some internal projects; for example,
developing a Learning World Online Order
Processing System – LOOPS – as a part of Structured Training’s own web
site, to enable people to purchase licences for any number of elearning
modules.
The products I have designed and built are:
·
360 Insight - This is an online, browser
based, password protected360 review system. With this system, people can select
their reviewers, have them complete an online competency based questionnaire,
view their own individual results, and, if they are a manager, call up a wide
variety of charts of aggregate results. People with administrator rights can
set up surveys, questionnaires and users directly through the web site. For
further information about the system, go to: http://www.predaptive.com/360insight.asp
·
Learning World - This is an elearning system.
It comprises a Content Delivery System for end users, a Learning Management
System for administrators and analysts, and a Learning Content Management
System for content providers. For a demo of the delivery system, go to: http://www.structuredtraining.com/extended/appraisal/demo.asp
Each product was built on a SQL Server database, comprising about
40 tables and 300 stored procedures, with COM objects for data wrapping,
charting, questionnaire rendering etc, and over 100 ASP files.
Structured Training Limited
From July 1999, I was contracted full-time to Structured Training
Ltd in Leamington Spa. I was responsible for developing an “intelligent” web
site capability, called GoFetch-IT Technology, for their web design company
DotWorld.
This system provides online advice to visitors to a web site
through an interactive question and answer session. It uses an expert system’s
inference engine to power the site, an engine that is ‘fuelled’ by the
expertise encapsulated in a back end knowledge base. At the same time, the
visitor’s details and responses are captured into a SQL Server database, a very
valuable source of marketing intelligence for the site owner. For further
information, go to: http://www.dotworld.com/aspx/gofetchit_demo.htm
.
I used this system to build a public web site for SalesPathways
Ltd. This site gave advice, customised to individual’s circumstances, about
implementing a Customer Relationship Management system and provided them with a
shortlist of suitable vendors.
I was also responsible for all of Structured Training’s IT needs.
In particular, I organised the installation of new NT Servers to run their
internal intranet and to host a number of web sites.
At the time, I was also the sole developer at DotWorld,
responsible for any scripting and/or database work that their clients’ sites
require. This included a database driven financial system for estimating
visitors’ annuities, and a set of online calculators for advising visitors on
their heating and air conditioning needs.
Proprietor
of ORSM Consulting (1997-2000 & 2005-2006)
Offered a service to deliver “Operational Research Systems for
Management”. A major contract was the continued development of the
“Journey-Plan” software for CACI in the
Technical
Director of Drivetime Software in the
Co-owner of Drivetime Software, based in the USA, an operation set
up after the sale of SPA to exploit its territory optimisation and journey
planning software in the USA (by agreement with CACI). Responsible for all
technical support issues, such as the building of driving time matrices and
zipcode databases.
Non-executive
director of SPA Marketing Systems Limited (1997-2000)
Sat on the board of SPA Marketing Systems to safeguard the
interests of its non-managing owners, and to assist in formulating the
company’s technical and commercial policies.
Development
Director of Sales Performance Analysis Ltd (1991-97)
Managed the development team responsible for SPA’s sales force planning
software. Created Strategist, a
sales resource evaluation tool. Designed and built Journey-Plan, the world’s first integrated sales territory
optimisation and call scheduling system (which automatically produces ideal,
compact, balanced territories, then generates the best possible journeys,
minimising driving for pre-planned visits with varying call frequency). Eventually involved in the sale of the whole
business to CACI.
Managing
Director of SPA Marketing Systems Ltd (1988-91)
Built up an organisation to:
·
do consultancy projects, mainly
for retailers, using my market analysis system;
·
license the system to clients
and help them to carry out their own analyses.
Recruited
and managed about 20 staff, split into four teams responsible for sales, consultancy
projects, client support and software development. Eventually involved in
selling the intellectual property rights in SPA’s software as Mosaic Systems to
CCN (now Experian) and the transfer of staff and clients to them.
Technical
Director of SPA Marketing Systems Ltd (1984-88)
Co-founded the SPA group
of analysis companies. Conceived and built The
Marketing Machine, the
·
geocoding,
·
customer profiling,
·
modelling market potential and
·
analysing catchment areas.
Performed a cluster analysis of census data to produce SPA’s own
neighbourhood classification. Integrated SPA’s software with Experian’s MOSAIC
datasets to produce Mosaic Systems,
a suite of software and data marketed jointly by both companies.
Senior
Consultant with CACI Market Analysis Division (1982-84)
Did consultancy work for CACI’s market analysis clients, based on
the ACORN consumer targetting system. Helped to set up and develop a branch
office specialising in retail analysis projects.
Computer
Manager of Market Location Ltd (1980-82)
Selected and installed an inhouse HP3000 computer. Set up a DP
department, comprising an operator and three analyst/programmers. Organised the
company’s transition to new production methods.
Principal
Consultant at the Unit for Retail Planning Information Ltd (1977-80)
Managed various consultancy and research projects at URPI (later
known as The Data Consultancy and now a part of MapInfo Inc). Carried out all
stages of consultancy work for retail and local authority clients, from initial
tender to final report. Managed the company’s DP and program development. Successfully completed
several major projects, including:
·
Market research studies for
Habitat,
·
Retail impact modelling for
Milton Keynes Development Corporation,
·
Pedestrian surveys for Fitch
& Co,
·
Retail location modelling for
·
Shopping Centre Assessment
programmes for
Designed
and built MARKETS, the world’s first
retail location model running on a micro-computer, and was involved in selling
the software to several clients.
Principal
Planning Officer in the
Held the position of assistant team leader of the West Berkshire
Structure Plan team. Was also responsible for all of the county’s work on
retail planning and analysis.
Consultant
with the Local Government Operational Research Unit (1969-75)
Carried out a wide range of applied research contracts for fee
paying public sector clients, including;
·
Evaluating refuse collection
systems for the British Airports Authority,
·
Running employment and housing
simulation models for several counties,
·
Forecasting population growth
in the Scottish New Towns,
·
Designing a calibration
computer program for the COMPASS transportation suite,
·
Developing a dynamic program
for the Department of the Environment.
Business Interests
My primary business interest in life is in using my breadth of
knowledge and experience in analytics and software development to deliver cost-effective solutions to
clients’ problems and business issues. I do this by designing, developing
and deploying powerful, cutting edge software products.
I have many years of experience in analytic software and services
consultancies. I have worked extensively
in:
·
Operational Research,
optimisation heuristics and expert systems.
·
Geographic Information Systems
(MapInfo, Tactician, Site and Mosaic Systems).
·
Web & windows software
development (in .NET 2.0, C#, Visual Basic, HTML, JavaScript, VBScript, SQL, C
and Fortran).
·
Project modelling &
management.
·
Urban, transport & retail
planning.
·
Logistics & journey
planning.
·
Consumer targeting and
geo-demographics (ACORN and MOSAIC).
·
Data mining and statistical
analysis (with SPSS).
·
Computer aided sales and
marketing.
·
Online HR and 360 appraisal
systems.
·
Elearning, Learning Management
& Learning Content Systems.
I see myself basically as a Hybrid Manager, Software Developer and
Complex Systems Analyst. I have a strong technical background in developing and
applying analytical modelling software. I also enjoy harnessing other people’s
creativity and bringing their ideas together in novel ways, for example:
Contact Manager + Distribution Planning System = Sales Force
Automation Software
I have extensive management experience in project work, team
building, client support and consultancy, which has always been done within a
commercial, profit focused environment.
I like to help to build profitable businesses that are based
around innovative software modelling products and analytical services.