Archives for Strategy - Page 2
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Article 50 – How will we Brexit?
After the referendum there's been a lot of speculation on how we invoke Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon. Article 50 (see below) is the provision for a member state to leave the EU. Article 50 Here is Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. It helps to know what it is before giving an opinion. 1. Any Member State may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional A Member State which decides to withdraw shall notify the European Council of its intention. In the light of the guidelines provided by the European Council, the Union shall negotiate and conclude an agreement with that State, setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal, taking account of the framework for its future relationship with the Union. That agreement shall be negotiated in accordance with Article 218(3) of the Treaty…
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Requirements – Five Steps to Great Requirements
Requirements are the key to getting a good solution, whether in procurement or just choosing between options. Most people get their requirements wrong, largely because they haven't drawn this connection. Requirements analysis is the first stage in the systems engineering process and software development process. Systems Engineering Fundamentals Defense Acquisition University Press, 2001 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Common Mistakes This list isn't exhaustive, I'm sure there are many more ways that requirements can go wrong. having too many not prioritising not engaging end users to develop requirements that meet their needs just throwing everything in that users ask for, without analysis of necessity (the big stapler approach) having requirements that constrain options to a specific solution ( "we need to upgrade Oracle" rather than "we need a database"). I've spent years as an analyst, and leading teams of business analysts, coming up with requirements…
Performance Objectives – Public Sector
Performance Objectives - Public Sector Slack et al. identify five generic performance objectives: quality speed dependability flexibility cost These generic performance objectives are explained below. There are public sector examples to help illustrate them. Quality Quality is about consistent performance. This could be meeting a product specification or about providing a superior service. In the public sector, it could be how many decisions get appealed. Or the number of letters re-drafted before being sent. Externally Quality increases customer satisfaction. Excellent services for the citizen should drive public services. Internally Quality reduces costs and increases dependability. Measurement Customer satisfaction surveys where there is a direct service to the public. Internal metrics ( redrafts or errors recorded on a case management system). Speed Speed is about minimising the time lag between a customer request and its fulfilment. This could be the time taken to reply to correspondence, or…
Brexit – what will the European Union do?
There's been discussion on the potential for a British Exit (Brexit) from the European Union. 98% of the noise is uncritical electioneering from the Brexit supporters. Even the pro-EU folk have their anglocentric specs on. Good strategy looks at different perspectives. I think we should look at how other European countries might see Brexit. European Perspectives on the EU Britain sees the EU quite differently from the original founding members. We were one of the first wave of joiners, nearly twenty years after it started. Our membership has always been about economic benefit to the UK. In contrast the French, Germans and Benelux countries view it as providing political stability to Europe. Their driver was avoiding another European war. The original treaty was signed in 1954, nine years after WW2 ended. Much of Germany was still in ruins, France was little better. So…
The Secret of Success or Snake Oil?
Clark Stanley's Snake Oil Liniment. Before 1920. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) The Secret of Success is offered on many pages across the Internet. They're almost all snake oil salesmen trying to part you from your money with the temptation of an easy win. The real secret of success is nothing of the sort. Secret of Success I think that there are four elements to being successful. Here is the secret of success as I see it. work hard learn from failures perseverance get lucky Why should you believe me? You've never heard of me as a big shot. Well that would be fair. In my chosen career, as a public servant, I'm moderately successful. I'm in the top 2% of UK civil servants. Not big enough for you have heard of, but successful enough to have worked out how the system…