The Hammer Solutions: How it Started
Innovation and problem solving play a crucial role in every origin story. Often, innovation evolves from identifying a problem, as was the case for Manny Abela, co-founder and president of Manta Ray Consulting. For years, earned value management (EVM) systems were cumbersome, time-consuming and overcomplicated. EVM project managers noted a history of instability and inefficiencies. Frustrations mounted over missing data or duplicated information. There was a clear need for improvement, and for Abela, The Hammer Solutions was the answer to establishing a cohesive and stable earned value management process. Even so, The Hammer Solutions did not happen overnight.
Identifying the need
It was 2006, and Manny had encountered the same issue with every EVM project up to that point—there was no standard process for itemizing variances. Every team he worked with struggled to analyze the set project plan against the actual performance and the costs. The plan and the performance were accessible through one database, while the costs were coming from a different accounting system. The lack of standardization made it difficult for the Control Account Managers (CAMs) to manage the plan, performance and costs.
Based on his decades of EVM project management experience, Manny not only understood the unique pain points but also recognized the opportunity to build something better. Inspired and motivated, he worked to develop a single software that provided access to all three data points and enabled variance analysis.
Early-day challenges
In the early days of testing and development, Manny struggled to consolidate and standardize a wide range of data from several sources. When The Hammer Solutions was in its infancy, PCs lacked a standard version of Excel—even from co-worker to co-worker. This meant the tool needed a substantial amount of upkeep for multiple users to share information. The solution? Implementing a web interface that engaged multiple users in real time and ensured that data was up to date. The notable feature became a defining element of The Hammer Solutions.
Evolution to today
As The Hammer Solutions evolved, so did its features. The tool received a series of upgrades, including workflow features, notification features, special reporting tools and, most recently, a single-sign-on feature. Its audience also grew. The Hammer slowly advanced from a grassroots tool to an upper management resource. Today, the tool is used by teams working on multiple U.S. Department of Energy projects.
As The Hammer Solutions continues to advance, so does Manny. He credits time and experience as having taught him the value of slowing down, stopping and listening:
“The most important lesson I’ve learned is to listen. You have to stop and listen to what our customers are saying. Take it to heart, so you can implement what they need.”
The future
The Hammer Solutions is about standardizing processes and creating a cohesive, single tool for the EVM project management industry. With ever-expanding capabilities, the future will be broadening its usage in labs across the United States.