understanding opportunity and risk

minimising future risk       creating sustainable advantage       creating opportunity

TURNAROUND, RESCUE, IMPROVEMENT, EFFICIENCY

- the hardcore work of a "business ninja". The emergency service you need before you call the emergency services. If your company or your development programme is in trouble - you need what we have. We go in, do the job, and get out.

PROGRAMME RESCUE:

people are human. Sometimes we do things well. Sometimes we make mistakes. It's important to realise when there is a mistake - and rectify it quickly and effectively to prevent serious damage or adverse affects. It's a fact of life that some development programmes go wrong. The problem in business is not when they start to go wrong, but when the wrong is not rectified ... and so the "wrong" builds a momentum of its own and so becomes difficult to stop.

We stop this momentum. We make things right. We put you back on track.

We don't do this by doing the same thing as everyone else. Doing the same thing in the same way just means the same results. We want different results. We want better results. This is why we do things differently - more creative and with a greater impact. In todays highly sensitive world this is a service you need.

Business is evolving.

The world is changing. The pace of change is increasing. To remain relevant within the evolving commercial landscape, business must adhere to a process of flexible and organised change based on business benefits and strategic outcomes.

This scale of change is kept continuous and provide cost benefits only by the perpetual drive to be efficient and effective. In other words, this process has to be efficient - and produce efficiencies.

Efficiency: the use of (finite) resources with minimal waste - using “change” as a catalyst to do things better, faster, cheaper, to increase the impact and the scope of the business, to control costs, to stop running in circles.

Finite resources need to be used wisely.

In todays commercial environment it isn’t enough to increase revenue generation. Neither is it enough to implant a technology “solution” into an existing operation in the hope this alone will solve any inherent areas of difficulty:

The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency. (Bill Gates)

There needs to be organisational efficiency.

Pouring water into a sieve will always result in the water leaking out. This is the same with profitability. The greater the inefficiency, the faster the profitability leak. Profitability can always be increased faster – and more sustainably – by increasing efficiency than it can be by increasing revenue.

This is about the control of costs and it is about business culture. This is what we do and we are unique. We change the goal posts. We rewrite the rules.

Tackling inefficiency involves aligning the different parts of the organisation towards the same common goal. This is a very human aspect of business that WILL meet resistance. And yet business efficiency is an essential therefore the above points MUST be tackled – but tackled in a way that encourages rather than entrenches. Costs MUST be controlled. Resources MUST be used effectively. Culture MUST be pro-active, inclusive, responsive, rewarding. These aren't options. It is fundamental business sense.

Efficiency is essential for the sustainability of every organisation. Continuous and visible performance improvement is an integral part of this drive.

Alt3 advocates a holistic approach to the management of efficiency:

1. Visibility of the strategic objectives and what needs to be achieved.

2. Visibility of ALL the pieces of the jigsaw – all the current developments causing change.

3. Understand the resistance to change – and why.

4. Formulate joined up actions, responsibilities, timelines … and communicate widely.

5. Constantly feedback to reduce fear, to increase motivation, focus and involvement.

Efficiency is the control of costs and being better at doing things. This is about people. They want to be motivated, focused, a valued part of something successful. This is what we do. We specialise in creating sustainable advantage.

If you don't understand the risks, how can you prepare? Can you afford to let the issues be blurred?

The turbulent 21st century

life isn't black and white

central@alt3.co.uk

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