Strategy Implementation
A fresh pair of eyes helps you grow
A fresh pair of eyes – how it helps me Each year I get to hear about great ideas being implemented around the world. And I get to ask the people who lead those initiatives any questions I like. Even better, I get to do it with colleagues from around the world who are in…
Read MoreOpportunities we miss
I live in Wellington, New Zealand, the windiest city on earth. But as I walked through Parliament grounds this morning, all the flags were hanging limply. It is a clear, still, mid-winter day. The harbour is flat as a pancake, perfect for kayaking or paddle-boarding but…there are always opportunities we miss. Why we miss opportunities…
Read MoreLearning by doing … and Vikings
We often learn best by doing things. We need knowledge and data but we need to do something useful with it too. If we don’t act on our knowledge, we limit our learning. A recent visit to the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde highlighted that learning by doing teaches us more. The last stop on…
Read MoreTransformation creates value. Are you transforming or tinkering?
Transformation creates value while tinkering just keeps us busy. Transformation is driven by a strategic focus on being in a different place in the future. Strategic transformation redefines an organisation’s operations, identity and direction. That can mean entering new markets, shifting from products to services, digitalisation at scale, switching from physical stores to online etc.…
Read MoreGhost benefits and real project benefits
Ghost benefits are scary. They threaten to use up your money, time and reputation with nothing to show for it. Ghost benefits are the imaginary gains from projects that haunt business cases, PowerPoint presentations and project meetings. Most people know they aren’t real but they won’t say anything in case little Jimmy still believes in…
Read MoreProject rescue – a simple guide
A project rescue is a structured approach to save a failing project. Your project fails when quality, scope, budget, or schedule does not meet expectations. It can also fail because the business case no longer stacks up. Projects exist to implement strategy so a project rescue saves your strategy and maybe your business or your…
Read MoreProject success vs organisational success
Projects implement strategic change. If a project meets its goals (succeeds) then the organisation meets its goals (succeeds). Right? Well maybe. Let’s take a closer look at success, value, strategic goals and what they mean for projects and organisations. What does success look like? Are project managers responsible for project delivery or for strategic goals…
Read MoreBack office projects can deliver clear payback
Payback on back office productivity projects Back office productivity projects should deliver clear payback. That may be reduced process time, less rework, fewer errors, faster throughput, less waste, fewer handoffs, fewer complaints, higher staff satisfaction, better profitability, more timely data, higher customer satisfaction, etc. These benefits can and should be defined and measured. They can…
Read MoreHow does ERP add value in a property business?
An Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system can help a property business deliver its strategy. It is up to each business to decide what that means. How does ERP help deliver strategy? Strategy delivery may mean ERP or any system is not a magic bullet No ERP or other property system is a silver bullet for…
Read MoreUnleashing 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…
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