Fixing Manual Workflows:
Consulting the ColdFusion Realms of Stakeholders and Developers
"TeraTech helped turn our stakeholders into owners of the solution. When that happens, you know the project will succeed."
Mike Robey | Senior Director of IT, American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
ColdFusion Problems Faced (The Two Worlds Collide)
- Internal stakeholders were crossing the gap from paper scrolls to digital ColdFusion workflows. Some were more willing than others.
- Business processes needed to be reforged like Narsil, redesigned entirely in ColdFusion to survive in an automated realm.
- Decisions weren’t always yes or no, true or false - more like Entish deliberation, hard to express in strict logic.
- Stakeholders and customers alike lacked visibility into progress, status, and outcomes.
- Previous developers had offered solutions that missed the mark, like giving a Hobbit a broadsword.
About the American Academy of Otolaryngology
The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) represents ENT physicians across the country. Their mission? Empower clinicians to deliver the best care possible. Mike Robey joined the organization with decades of IT experience and a clear vision: to leave behind the fog of manual workflows and bring clarity through automation.
Having worked with TeraTech on ColdFusion projects before, he knew they could deliver more than just lines of code - they could bridge the worlds of business and development.
Improvements Achieved (The Return of the King)
- Automated manual workflows, shedding the burden of repetitive tasks like Frodo dropping the Ring.
- Gave stakeholders and customers visibility into process status. No more peering into palantírs or guessing what’s next.
- Redesigned outdated CF business logic to match the needs of a modern digital system.
- Achieved full stakeholder adoption by encouraging ownership and ongoing feedback.
- Delivered a tailored, dynamic solution that grew with the organization.
- Bridged business and technical teams like a rebuilt bridge at Osgiliath: strong, clear, and built to last.
How TeraTech Helped (The Bridge of Fellowship)
Mike's challenge wasn’t just to automate. He needed to align. Most hurdles weren’t in code syntax or ColdFusion specs, but in how to redesign business processes to fit the real-world decisions humans actually make. Previous developers had tried and failed by treating the work like a one-player game. TeraTech, on the other hand, formed a fellowship.
They worked hand-in-hand with internal stakeholders, listening first and building second. They translated ambiguous human processes into logical workflows while keeping everyone (technical and non-technical) on the same map.
Stakeholders began to see the app not as someone else's tool, but as their own. That shift in perspective was the magic. It wasn’t just about automating - it was about belonging, believing, and becoming owners of a better system.
TeraTech didn’t just bring code - they brought cohesion. By the end, stakeholders were no longer passengers on the journey. They were steering. And that, as Mike Robey affirms, is what makes the difference between a finished project and a lasting success.
