SSD VT Blog

Problem Families

29/4/2015

Each family has its own unique issues and thus, differing needs for analysis and varying support requirements. This blog is based on an extended family we encountered in one of many projects.

SSD was asked to support a review which was already underway but stalling. It quickly became apparent that the problem with the review was down to two basic issues.

1. The multi-agency alliance was finding it extremely difficult to share comparative information across the multiple organisations involved due to data-sharing protocols.

Reducing complaints

28/4/2015

Complaints are generally expensive, but can they also be beneficial?

Some would say complaints are an unavoidable part of doing business. But in a world promoting the ‘Voice of the Customer’, there is rarely any better feedback mechanism direct from the customer than a complaint!

Considered from this perspective, complaints can be a rich source of information providing a fast track to improvement and a fantastic reputation.

The following post shows how complaints can be used to drive improvements.

Fleet Agility

22/4/2015

SSD were engaged to carry out a fleet review with the primary objective of reducing costs. To achieve that, the client asked us to carry out an analysis exercise to challenge the efficiency and effectiveness of their maintenance programme.

Initial observations showed that the ‘target sum’ could be saved from fuel costs alone. Following this we were asked to look a little further.

The broader assessment, including time talking to the experts in the system led to the construct of the graphic below. Having no prior visibility of the system in this way and being pleasantly surprised by the output in the short time-frames the client provided a number of permissions to act with immediate effect.

Waste within waste

21/4/2015

Most processes can be improved, but rarely does improvement equal most of the process being removed!

At least, not while still providing increased customer benefit!

This short article on ‘Clinical Waste’ details an intervention which saw SSD deliver just such a result.

We were approached to carry out a review of a clinical waste process which fundamentally comprised ‘A man and a van’ travelling around to collect ‘sharps’ and other waste products requiring ‘management’ in line with legislation.

If Russ Ackoff had given a TED Talk

23/3/2015

The two biggest interconnected parts of a system most treat as distinct from each other are Process and People. To effect sustainable change in any organisation, both must be understood in detail and addressed concurrently.

However, most of the popular approaches promoted in relation to organisational change over the last few decades promote a focus on process, resigning any awareness around the change taking place in people to an HR budget, typically under the guise of a training plan (which is also 'change done to' people).

As Dr. Ackoff highlights in this entertaining talk, expecting organisational performance to improve by focusing on just one department or just the processes therein, is like expecting just the engine or a seat of a car to be able to take you on a journey.

SSD take the holistic approach advocated by Dr. Ackoff in this presentation and as a result we are able to demonstrate a 100% project success record. Seeing the bigger picture really does make all the difference.

£300K Passenger Transport Savings in 30 Days

10/3/2015

SSD have been at it again!

... applying our proven methods since January 2015, we've taken existing data, converted that into meaningful information and presented it in better ways to stimulate buy-in and action ... in the process we've identified not only this benefit in Passenger Transport from a single school, but also the potential to repeat similar ratio savings across all routes; offering many X the savings identified for the first school. Those involved are now busy making it a reality with no requirement for a loss of council jobs while seeing most children now travelling shorter distances for less time.

We're convinced this kind of improvement will resonate with all LA's facing on-going budget cuts estimated to be anything from 7% to 15% (annual avg.) and projected to hit most authorities each year until 2020. So we thought we'd better start boasting about this latest improvement, in case it's something we cold repeat for you?

Based on our track record, this kind of saving is not only typical but also repeatable across most, if not all areas of local authority service delivery ... if you're wondering how you're going to reduce total spend while increasing revenue and jobs, we'd be happy to have a conversation - we've found innovative ways to do this many times in the past and we're very pleased to be doing it again now.

Fish rot from the head...

27/2/2015

Public Sector Decline - The Massive Battle

19/2/2015

The public sector, especially Local Government has endured a more prolific set of changes over the last decade than ever before, and has, in general survived well.

Services have been reduced, highlighting pressure points and issues ... but we have Highways that are good to OK, Housing for most, an education system that is hanging in and a public health system that is still something to be proud of .... but can that be the case in the near future?

In the near future, cuts in funding, pay & jobs are going to be more severe, more sustained and nearer 'Impossible' to address than ever before.

One council we've been dealing with was preparing for up to 30% cuts in its whole workforce, another has started a 10% redundancy led reduction, following 2,000 people leaving last year. Another is facing at least a 7% reduction in funding for the next three years.

Via the traditional lens of 'management' such pressures must equate to redundancies, restructures, outsourcing and reductions in services. This is often approached under the banner of 'Lean' (often not very well thought through) which purports efficiency improvements. It isn't uncommon for such 'improvement' activities to precede reductions in resource (lost jobs) and a reduction in the quantity and quality of services delivered.

Visualising Transformatoin from SSD offers many other dimensions... What if you can do more for less? What happens if you invest your freed up capacity to do more work ... value adding work? Can you continuously reduce costs and retain employment?

Well .... the simple answer is ... yes you can!

So please, let's restore sense and hope!

As can be seen from our own track record and related case studies, in many cases it is possible to improve without the losses; and often, in our experience, reduce capital and budgets while maintaining / increasing jobs and service delivery.

If you're looking for development support that leads to a more sustainable future, even in the face of cuts, Contact us.

Sustained Transformation in Local Authorities ...

13/2/2015

In light of the 7% per annum to 2020 budget cuts estimated at the #IEWM conference before Christmas, and the increasing pressure to make savings 'now', ALL Local Authorities (LA's) will be looking to increase revenue opportunities, reduce capital and protect jobs.

Many approaches have failed to achieve this in the recent past ... which makes SSD a little different. We have a 100% project delivery success rate delivering over £90 Million in savings and nearly always save more than the targets set at initial engagement for our clients.

We don't just offer a proven approach which leads to 'sustainable transformation' we also offer examples of 'Sustained Transformation' following projects and interventions we have led in the past. Take Wiltshire for example ...

Wiltshire Council have gone on to train over 760 people in the VT (Visualising Transformation) methodology originally delivered by SSD, including 130 people from the Police and the office of the PCC. (Sept’ 2014). They have also working with the NHS locally.

This has led to the following reports of 'Improvement' activity.

All of this has followed the savings made by SSD during a 9 Month engagement, during which we delivered our pivotal 3 day 'Visualising Transformation' course.

This course and our on-going support is available to public and private sector clients alike, helping them develop a commercial focus which leads to fewer high volume small revenue / small margin / high resource requirement opportunities (e.g. Payroll for schools) and more large scale / large saving / inter-connected opportunities, which we help identify quickly from our experience and enact via your teams to ensure knowledge transfer enables on-going (continuous) improvement.

If you'd like to know more, please contact us and we will be happy to arrange a time to discuss your needs and how we can help.

Happy New Year from SSD

5/1/2015

We're very pleased to announce that we achieved more forecast savings for our clients in 2014 than in any previous year, making 2014 our busiest & most successful year ever!

On such a positive note, we'd like to take this opportunity to wish all our current and prospective customers

A happy and prosperous 2015.

We look forward to working with you soon.