Building Capability
Unleashing the improvement mindset
Unleashing the right mindset for improvement is key to success. This week’s blog is different. It is not about our firm, our work or our people. It is about a book from one of the most positive people I know – Darcy Mellsop of CILab. Productivity and continuous improvement New Zealand needs to improve its…
Read MoreBack office key to delivering strategy
The back office is key to delivering strategy. Operational excellence is a deliberate state created by people, processes and systems aligned to create value. It doesn’t happen by accident. We know that making back office functions work better is more effective than wholesale cuts. Optimising back office operations is strategically important. In fact, a well-designed…
Read MoreIs digital transformation real?
Is digital transformation real? Are the benefits achievable? Every few years there is a new management fad. How do we separate the hype from the value? We look at what digital transformation promises and what it delivers, so let’s do that. What is digital transformation? The full incorporation of computer-based technologies into your organisation’s products,…
Read MorePeople Analytics: Enabling Capability
Organisations use data to help drive strategy, including HR strategies. People analytics is the use of data and statistical analysis to make informed decisions about people-related issues. Historically, HR made decisions based on intuition and past experiences. With advancements in technology, most HR professionals are now applying people analytics to recruitment and development of people…
Read MoreOrganisational Improvement – 4 operating modes
Improving organisational capability is critical to raise productivity. Organisational improvement occurs in different ways. The language of disruption is common but true disruption creates new markets and industries. Most firms don’t do that. They adapt and change but they do so on a smaller scale. Four Operating Modes for Organisational Improvement I find that organisations…
Read MoreCapability Development: People are a company’s greatest asset
I have worked in organisations that have had great attraction, recruitment and selection processes. Most of them had poor training and development processes. Those companies did not provide suitable training or suggest suitable training providers. Even when I found training that aligned with my role and career, I was told it was not ‘relevant enough’. …
Read MoreSunk Cost Fallacy: How holding on can sink your productivity
In the National Basketball Association (NBA), teams frequently offer players multi-year contracts, based on performance or potential. However, various factors like aging or injuries can lead to a decline in these players’ performance over time. In some cases, despite the initial promise, these players may not meet expectations. They are a sunk cost. Despite this,…
Read MoreCapability Building: The role of projects
Projects, when carefully planned and executed, can be powerful vehicles for driving change and building capability within an organisation. They provide a structured approach to address challenges, implement improvements, and capitalise on opportunities. Here are a few ways projects can be used to build capability… Knowledge Sharing Knowledge is a competitive advantage for organisations. We…
Read MoreCapability building for productivity: NZ’s missing link
Organisational success means better commercial outcomes for firms and better social outcomes for public sector agencies and not-for-profits. To achieve those better outcomes, our people need to be focused on efficiency, effectiveness, and innovation. This blog explores the importance of capability building for productivity. New Zealand’s productivity levels have been below that of other OECD…
Read MoreEnsuring value for money when hiring consultants
Consultants are an obvious target for cost savings. Why are you paying these people all this money? Fair question. Sometimes you shouldn’t. On the other hand, consultants are called in at short notice to do complex tasks in short timeframes and are expected to meet high standards. They do jobs that are only required occasionally,…
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