The Value for Money (VfM) gap
What is the Value for Money gap? The value for money gap is a lack of confidence that money is being spent on the right things and in the best way to get desired outcomes. It arises when spending choices do not reflect perceived priorities and when spending is seen as wasteful. It is subjective…
Read MoreWhat is a feasibility study?
A feasibility study is an early examination of the merits of an idea, proposal or project. It looks at whether or not it can be done, its likelihood of success and, perhaps most importantly, identifies the factors that could lead to success or failure. It gives an independent assessment that examines all aspects of a…
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 MoreBudgets are strategic tools so pruning is better than slashing
Budgets are strategic tools – they allocate resources to strategic priorities. Pruning and shaping spending is better than slashing and burning. It is easy to cut costs by slashing but it is hard to prune and shape an organisation. Strategic budgeting shapes long-term value. Pruning and shaping needs a focus on value streams I made…
Read MoreERP return on investment (ROI)
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems promise benefits but it takes time and effort to achieve the promised results. You need a recipe for success. An ERP system return on investment (ROI) is not guaranteed. In 2012, Auckland city forecast a NZ$10 million per year return on its SAP ERP system investment of NZ$71million. By 2014…
Read MoreImagining a future helps create it
Imagining a future helps create it. Envisioning a future state does not mean predicting the future. None of us has a crystal ball but if we can imagine what the future might hold we can be better prepared to create or influence it. Our predictions don’t need to be right. They just have to be…
Read MoreBenefits are at the centre of change
Benefits are at the centre of change. Organisations change because of the promise of benefits, or beneficial outcomes. Benefits matter. Disruption is worthwhile to gain efficiency, increase revenue, reduce cost, increase security, achieve growth, solve a big problem or create new products and services. We all like benefits which is why business cases are full…
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 MoreOptimisation is more than a buzzword
Optimisation is used a lot in marketing. It can be a meaningless buzzword but it does have a real meaning that matters. Optimisation makes the best use of a situation or makes a thing as good or effective as it can be. If we all did that, we could produce more with less. That would…
Read MoreCreating value is what really matters
The purpose of organisations is to create value. That seems obvious but if you take a close look at most workplaces you will see lots of time and money spent on things that don’t add value. Remote decision-making holds up work. Inventory ties up cash. Property is underutilised. Smart people can’t contribute fully. Processes aren’t…
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