It’s a Project Board – Not a Tea Party
I once attended the first ‘steering committee meeting’ for a ‘project’. There were 18 attendees. The meeting took 2.5 hours, including morning tea. The agenda was vague, the participants unprepared and the outcome predictable. There was a wide-ranging discussion and everyone had a say. There were two agreements at the end of the meeting: I don’t know…
Read MoreDoes the fear of failure limit strategic success?
A fear of personal failure can hold us back from doing the things we need to do to succeed. Most of us have felt that at some time in our lives. We find ways to reduce the fear so we can act. Organisations can impose a fear of failure too. Here are 3 ways they…
Read MorePaying for election promises – room for improvement
New Zealand is awash with political promises as the general election looms. There are so many new policies from every party. No problem seems too big to solve right now. How can all those things possibly get done? How can a government do so many new things when budgets are already committed to existing things?…
Read MoreThe importance of communication for strategic success
Directors have spent 12 months developing their new corporate strategy but somehow it doesn’t seem to be having any impact. The strategy has even been internally published. However, little change is taking place. So, why do so many strategic plans end up collecting dust in desk drawers or in deleted email folders? Whilst devising a…
Read MoreWhat is Value Stream Mapping?
In Lean thinking, we use Value Stream Mapping (VSM) as a visual tool to identify value for the customer. Its roots trace back to Toyota’s car manufacturing. After World War 2, Japan’s economic situation was uncertain. They needed to be creative to remain competitive. Instead of stockpiling parts, Toyota created a system for only developing…
Read MoreHow do I implement strategy while cutting costs?
In tough times, Managers cut budgets. We look for obvious savings. HR leaves vacancies unfilled. We cut travel. The training and conference budget disappears. Property gives up the lease on an office floor. People lose their jobs. Executives shelve business cases. Now is not the time for bright, new ideas. It is time to tighten…
Read MoreWhat is Data-Driven Strategy?
Data-Driven Strategy uses data and insights to plan and achieve business goals. It contrasts with strategy based on intuition, past experiences or theory. Data-driven strategy relies on data analysis. Data analysis gives an evidence base to enable effective decision-making. This isn’t to say traditional methods should be ignored but providing evidence to support intuition can…
Read MoreBetter Business Cases – Are They?
Formal, standardised business cases used to be common only for larger investments. Now, NZ state sector agencies use the Better Business Cases (BBC) format for smaller, internal and less-visible proposals. The current investment threshold is $15m in whole-of-life costs. BBC must be used for any new Crown projects. It is also mandatory for anything deemed…
Read MoreIT Project Success – it’s about the tech, right?
Procurement is done. Your organisation has chosen a new ERP system or other core system or upgrade. The vendor tells you the project steps and key dates. All set to go? …. Not just yet. IT project success depends on more than the core technology. Ask these questions up front: 5 questions to ask before you…
Read MoreFeasibility Studies – A matter of evidence
A client recently asked us to do a feasibility analysis. The client had the basis of an idea and they needed a study to see if the idea was feasible. Feasible means possible and likely to be achieved. This seems simple, but means looking objectively at the idea rather than just discussing its merits. A feasibility study…
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