INSIGHTS
For over twenty years, we’ve helped our clients to overcome their leadership challenges and achieve success using the MSH tools and approaches we have built to work for New Zealand companies. From time to time, we take the chance to document our insights combining our extensive experience with the latest strategy thinking.
Set out below are our latest insights.
Navigating the future by modelling what drives the most value in your strategy
Reduced government spending and rising living costs often compounds into challenging economic environments. During these times, we see many leaders having to make tough decisions about how to make ends meet at pace. Often, there isn’t time to work through all the implications of changes which can be impactful to an organisation.
We have developed a Value Driver Modelling approach that helps leaders to navigate the "what’s next" by enabling organisations to understand what really drives value in their strategy and therefore make better evidence-based decisions. Our approach empowers leaders to rethink their strategy by providing them with sound rationale for where to invest to optimise their strategic performance. It not only helps leaders reset their strategic aspirations, but it also gives them the confidence that the organisation is set up to succeed because resources are aligned to the business results that staff are being asked to commit to and deliver.
A simple accountability framework that works
For a strategy to be successful, the people and the strategy must be aligned, but we often find that a lack of clarity on accountabilities results in misalignment. This is a key step in implementing your strategy, as if people do not understand their roles and responsibilities, but leaders think they have made people accountable for certain roles and responsibilities, this creates friction in implementing the strategy, resulting in the strategy failing to make a positive impact on your organization.
We have found that achieving alignment does not have to be difficult, and here at MSH we have a simple but powerful framework called RAEW: Responsibility, Authority, Expertise, and Work. This framework is a great tool that enables effective accountability, provides clarity around roles and responsibilities, brings about alignment between people and the strategy, and ultimately supports successful implementation of your strategy.
AN INNOVATIVE GAME-PLAN FOR SPORTS ORGANISATIONS THAT WANT TO WIN
COVID-19 presents an opportunity for sports organisations to redefine the long-term direction of their sport. Sports New Zealand has led this charge, by emphasising that the COVID recovery is a time to pivot and build a better future which not only addresses past challenges, but reimagines how sports will deliver for New Zealanders going forward. With the opportunity to access government “strengthen and adapt” funding, a clear strategy is more important than ever to get right.
We have found that traditional strategy approaches just aren’t that effective for sports organisations. As a result, we have developed an approach based on three creative ideas to help sports organisations win the strategy game. This approach tackles the strategic divide which often exists between the board and management.
Creating a customer-focussed strategy that delivers real outcomes in today’s complex world
Increasingly organisations are being asked to focus on broader outcomes than they might traditionally have chosen – enhancing environmental sustainability, reducing societal inequalities and strengthening cultural vibrancy are some of the common challenges we see. The focus on these areas has been enhanced by Government initiatives like the Wellbeing Budget and the increasing focus on collaboration between departments, strengthened by the new Public Service Act.
Over the last few years we’ve worked with clients who are grappling with the challenge of achieving significant outcomes in a complex environment which require input from multiple organisations or business units. To overcome this challenge, we created and refined an Outcome Strategy Framework approach which combines the powerful customer strategy canvas with a traditional outcomes framework. We believe that putting the customer at the heart of the strategy is key to ensuring there is a clear line of sight between the outcomes you want to achieve, the impact on your customers, and the work you will do.