Banks need to plan now to meet new regulations 

As shares in UK high street banks plummet further, the need to restore consumer confidence in the banking system intensifies. In response the FSA has introduced a reform of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) that is likely to result in significant, complex and costly changes for banks, especially for those that have recently merged. Read more about Banks need to plan now to meet new regulations... 

Shared Services – a tool for the times ?

Starting up Shared Services is an enormous challenge at the best of times and an uncertain 2009 makes it even harder. On the other hand, the drivers for Shared Services – and doing it right – are stronger and more valid.

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Reducing IT costs without destroying value

Organisations are continually under pressure to control the amount they spend on IT, but never more so than in the current downturn as organisations look to curtail investment programmes and reduce costs.  However IT cost reductions should always be approached with value in mind; if cutting IT costs destroys business value,  then the reductions will be a false economy.  Read more about Reducing IT costs without destroying value...

Where to Invest in a Downturn

As the recession begins to bite, all companies will be looking to make significant improvements in cash flow and operating margins with varying focus on the level and timescales for benefits realisation. All will have a variety of improvement projects ongoing at any time, the essential questions will be focused on the following: are we doing the right projects, will they deliver the benefits we need and how do we focus our limited resources to best effect?  Read more about Where to Invest in a Downturn...

Tactical or Strategic Procurement – which will you be?

2009 will be a year of challenges and opportunities for Procurement. Should Directors be keeping with the procurement strategy developed in 2008 or should they abandon it for the tactical activities that the business may well be pushing for?

 Read more about Tactical or Strategic Procurement – which will you be? ..

Ten steps to reduce your supply chain vulnerability

In tough times businesses need to focus absolutely on profit, cash flow and eliminating unpredictable events from a declining demand profile. Supply chains have a critical role in delivering this agenda but face vulnerabilities across demand-side, internal operations and supply-side that can have a serious business impact. This article discusses the vulnerabilities and provides ten actions a business can take to counter them.  Read more about Ten steps to reduce your supply chain vulnerability ..

Planning a fast track business turnaround

Although the headline problem will inevitably have a financial impact (declining revenues, spiralling costs or a combination causing a profits crunch) the causes are likely to be far less specific. The foundation of a successful turnaround will be to quickly pinpoint the crunch areas and the underlying causes using a very targeted approach to correct or stabilise without adversely affecting those parts that are performing well.  Read More...

The dilemma of engaging employees during unsettling times

In today’s rapidly changing economic climate many executives are facing an acute dilemma. Among many other priorities, how do they make the people changes that they feel are necessary to rapidly improve performance whilst maintaining employee motivation and engagement?

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Rising to the challenge of the Operational Efficiency Programme

The Operational Efficiency Programme (OEP) puts additional pressure on Government.  Senior private sector advisors are tasked with helping Government find a further £30bn of savings across a number of cross cutting initiatives.   Again, there will be more focus on the frontline, and streamlining of the back office, but additionally, delving deeper into other areas such as asset management and property which could yield further cost savings. Can Government step up to this latest challenge? Read more...

The Evolution of Lean Thinking in the NHS

How to Manage Successfully in Uncertain Times

Most businesses now believe that an economic downturn in the UK is now less a case of 'if', or 'when' but a reality. With a regular swirl of economic and market statistics, media stories and rumours circulating, what clear steps can businesses take to prepare themselves for the uncertain times ahead?
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Developing and Fostering an Agile Organisation

Business agility is one of the key differentiators in today’s market, indeed, a company’s future-centricity may soon become the sole differentiator as markets and customers adopt new ways of doing business. Constant change is essential to business success, and it begins with people. Business and HR leaders must work to overcome employees’ natural change-aversion and instill a culture of change from the grass roots up.  Read more...

Lean Product Innovation

It is clear that with the global challenges now facing many organisations the need to improve product innovation is an important source of competitive advantage.  Atos Consulting sponsored the Aberdeen Group to undertake a benchmark survey of 400 organisations to identify what leading organisations are doing to enhance their product innovation capability in response to these challenges. Read more...

Effective Sales and Operational Planning will improve profitability

Sales & Operational Planning (S&OP) has been around for nearly 20 years and for many it is limited to a tactical planning process, for a few it is something much more powerful.  Research commissioned by Atos Consulting has shown that companies with a best in class wining S&OP process have a clear performance advantage in all key supply chain metrics.    Read more...

Structured Financial Products – Improving Time to Market

Corporate Investment Banking and Wealth Management institutions have succeeded in creating large profits for their clients and their shareholders. The buoyancy of the economy has meant that even inefficient front-office processes have performed well. As the market becomes more competitive and clients are more demanding, less loyal and looking for new, innovative products being available immediately, the challenge is on to meet their raised expectations. Read more...

Update on Shared Services Locations 2007

Our experience in 2007 to date indicates that the location decision is becoming even more significant as a result of some interesting trends in Shared Services requirements and capabilities. Read more...

Business Process Reform: The Key to Unlocking Value from Contract Certainty

Insurance brokers and underwriters agreeing insurance term sheets is traditional practice. It has often meant that the price was agreed far in advance of the finalisation of detailed documentation (‘contract certain’) of just what was being covered. In 2004, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) challenged the industry to improve the lengthy process of finalising insurance contracts or face enforcement action. Read more...

The balancing act

Keeping your business in peak condition requires the balancing skills of a top gymnast, striving for a faultless Olympic performance. There's no time to reflect on your next manoeuvre when you are already in mid-somersault, and to make the task harder still, the rules of the competition, as well as the equipment itself, are subject to relentless change. Read more...

Shared Services - Have you optimised your investments?

Do you know if you are getting maximum value from your investment? Do you have issues and challenges? Do you want to understand which best practices are appropriate for you, and develop focused action plans to move forward?  Read more...

Contestability – the key to realising CSR 07 savings?

Achieving CSR 07 targeted savings to administration costs of 5% year on year will require radical changes to the way departments procure external support. This typically represents half of the operating costs. Simply looking to “buy things better” will not be enough.  Rather departments will need to look at how they do things and make radical changes to their business models.  The concept of contestability is likely to be a core part of the solution to this challenge. Read more...

Transforming the enterprise in 2007

It hadn't seemed a year since we were last peering into the glass ball to look at how technology might impact us in the coming year. Going into 2007, we predicted there would be many exciting new changes as the enterprise gets to grip with Web 2.0 (the next step change in the internet) and the real tangible benefits it can bring.

We also took a look at how SOA and mobile solutions, both after many years of hype, are being more widely adopted by businesses. Read more...

Security and Information Risk Survey

This survey conducted by the National Computing Centre (NCC). Sponsored by Atos Consulting, it highlighted the need for governance and integration of security across the entire business. In order to ensure that the additional investment does deliver value. Despite growing awareness of security and information risk issues at board level and an increase in budget allocation for risk management, many businesses are at risk due to fragmented security controls. Read more...

The business benefits of IT agility

As the pressure on businesses to innovate increases, there is growing pressure on the IT function to demonstrate agility. Sue German explains. Read more...

How advanced are your Legacy Applications?

Legacy issues need to be addressed sooner rather than later. According to research conducted by the National Computing Centre and by Atos Origin, this is a strong and growing appreciation held by IT decision makers.
Report highlights include: Read more...

The rebirth of CRM

CRM continues to be a topic that generates much debate and it is currently experiencing a rebirth. Diego Anderiz explores recent trends in the CRM market and outlines ways to measure the success of CRM initiatives. Read more...

Want to know how a ‘Rich Picture’ can benefit your organisation?

Experience shows that it is extremely difficult to convey a forceful message through the medium of words alone, especially in a world in which communication is increasingly image driven. Confronted by a series of strategic challenges, a Greater Manchester NHS trust's leadership team opted for a new way of agreeing its vision which engaged staff and other stakeholders. Read more...