sean f burns
Consulting
Developing Better Change Leaders
Putting leadership development at the heart of a major operations-improvement effort paid big dividends for a global industrial company. This is an excerpt from an article by Aaron De Smet, Johanne Lavoie, and Elizabeth Schwartz Hioe. Read the whole article here: https://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Organization/Change_Management/Developing_better_change_leaders_2959 Few companies can avoid big, periodic changes in the guts of their business. … Continue reading
Where’s the right place to start change?
In the various roles I hold I’m responsible for a lot of change. A recent McKinsey article suggests focusing efforts on the most connected employees to help generate momentum and accelerate impact. All the planning in the world won’t make change happen if the people don’t want to change. A problem many organisations run into … Continue reading
What’s the secret to sustained cost savings?
Last month’s Bain Brief looks at how some organisations are driving costs out of their business and making the savings stick. I’ve been asked to help build many a business case and you sometimes get the feeling the organisation you’re working with knows that they’re inflating the benefits. I’m sure you’ve likely worked in other … Continue reading
The Performance Pyramid
John Wedman recently posed on the AEA a framework and process for identifying, analyzing, and addressing the barriers to optimal performance in the workplace. This is particularly useful when focusing on results and I’ve migrated some of my approach as a consultant to incorporate the framework. The Performance Pyramid is based on the premise that, … Continue reading
Shared Service Excellence
To reach high performance, organizations need to help their shared-services organizations move up the value chain and deliver directly to the customer. They should focus on process excellence, performance management and continuous improvement and innovation through collaboration. And they must leverage the existing talent available. Many organizations today are leading the way toward new kinds … Continue reading
Ability to Execute Strategy
The best strategy for any company is a strategy it can implement. To find the right strategy for a business, its managers must understand such general considerations as its competitive situation, the latent needs of customers, capital markets, the regulatory environment, new technology, the structure of its industry, and the strengths and weaknesses of its … Continue reading
Energy Retailer of Tomorrow
Utility retailers are being thrown into a new era of energy consumerism. Yet for almost a hundred years consumers have paid for energy as a utility. Few choices have existed for consumers in terms of provider or value, let alone options for additional products, services, and experience from their energy retailer. These new opportunities indicate … Continue reading
