IMPROVING PERFORMANCE
The challenges
As a senior management team it is likely that you will know what you need to achieve but not necessarily how. The parameters for improving performance are simple – either reduce cost for a given output, or increase output for a given (constrained) resource. These demands are usually a response to changing circumstances and priorities and can be both short and long term agendas
The key issues
Essentially, performance can be achieved by improving efficiency (ie how something is performed) and effectiveness (what is performed). For any given cost base the situation can be summarised as follows:
Effective improvement requires a sound baseline understanding of current performance and how it meets current and future needs. Understanding and agreeing the root causes of problems is the key to identifying the most effective or efficient solution.
Our approach to performance improvement includes:
- Working with management to define and communicate the problem and build the case for change
- Working with key stakeholders (eg process owners) to methodically identify and agree the key root causes of inefficiency and ineffectiveness
- Development of potential solutions (people, process and technology) and matching them to key areas of poor performance via sponsored business case
- Ranking and prioritising the solutions into a portfolio approach to performance improvement – a change programme ranging from immediate ‘quick wins’ to more complex cross functional technology driven change
- Communicating the journey and underpinning this with interim and end goals for the programme
