In both the For-Profit and Not-for-Profit sectors, impact is sustained by innovation (as well as focus, commitment, teamwork and hard work). Since innovation takes persistence, imagination & experimentation, there needs to be a certain tolerance to failure (trial and error) on the part of funders. For-Profits and Not-for-Profits basically have opposite time and money challenges.…
Dedicated Silos and Centralised Workload Distribution Teams working in dedicated silos (swim lanes) enable those staff, systems and robotics to become ‘field experts’ with the relevant internal/external clients and run a lean process. This approach is useful in a recurring situations e.g. budget holders receiving help from finance, or making cars on an assembly line.…
Management is about converting the obvious skills of your team into process, service or product outputs. Leadership is about leveraging the hidden talents of your team to best advantage. Simon Leicester SME Consultant
During the subprime meltdown of 2008, a lack of confidence soon developed in the valuations of (some) bank balance sheet assets. Credit rating agencies were no help and came in for their share of criticism. There’s a lesson there for charity balance sheets and BCP. Make sure your key suppliers will go the distance on…
Human creativity – mentally reaching for the sky, flying solo and then making a perfect landing! In the age of the smart machine, human creativity is how we keep our skin in the game. Simon Leicester SME Consultant
If your business is a near monopoly, then benchmark on efficiency. If your business is in a highly competitive sector, then benchmark on innovation rate. Secondly, who you compare yourself to, is as important as adjusting for size, sector, jurisdiction and era. Simon Leicester SME Consultant
The time to create business cases is when you aren’t under time pressure. Avoid optimism bias, but make the most compelling, realistic case. They probably cannot approve them all. But at least you know you gave it your best shot. Secondly, half the value of business cases is first framing the options available. Simon Leicester…
Optimism bias is the cool kid that budgets, project plans and business cases like to hang out with. Simon Leicester SME Consultant
People who don’t do forecasting, think it’s some kind of precise science, with formulas and universal rules. People who do forecasting, know it’s an art with colour and shading, framed by probability and perspective. Simon Leicester SME Consultant
Risk Position is the board consensus view and Risk Tolerance/Appetite is the stated board tolerance from that consensus view (variance from the mean). Risk tolerance may be less than actual risk capacity – when the limited are tested, risk appetite may need to adjust. It also follows that the risk appetite of the board committees…