The programme proved a major and ground breaking initiative to move the Department away from the conventions of post, grade and recruitment to organisational agility through management of capability and capacity. The 5 year programme covered initial feasibility and piloting, followed by a phased and facilitated roll-out to over 1700 staff. A key element was a bespoke IT system, developed in house. Basis consultants were instrumental in all aspects of the programme, including management coaching and wider communication. The programme proved an exemplar for an integrated approach to IT enabled change, delivering substantial benefit for a fraction of the costs normally associated with equivalent corporate initiatives by following a structured approach:
- initial feasibility study and methodology development;
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operation of pilot in selected directorates to prove concepts;
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specification and user testing of the bespoke IT system;
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facilitated roll-out to the remainder of the Department;
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integrated approach encompassing new technology, new working methods and new management roles.
Key Achievements:
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the breakdown of all the Department’s work into “work packages” so that all resource requirements could be quantified and prioritised;
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design of a capability framework which enabled all work requirements and staff skills to be characterised against the same criteria, thus allowing effective matching;
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specification, testing and roll-out of a bespoke IT system to over 1700 staff;
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over 1700 users trained in system operation;
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managers successfully facilitated through the new concepts and ways of working;
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programme delivered ahead of schedule and under budget;
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demonstration of system and concepts to numerous other central government departments that have gone on to adopt similar or derivative approaches.
Knowledge and Skills transferred:
Basis worked as an integral part of the in-house team, and through a mixture of formal training, coaching and mentoring, the in house team members were equipped with the necessary skills to undertake a similar piece of business analysis work themselves.
Training given to FD system users was delivered jointly by Basis and in-house personnel to begin with; the role being taken over by in-house personnel once they were comfortable.
The same approach was taken with the delivery of management training in the new concepts and ways of working.
Client Testimonial:
“Basis consultants have worked in partnership with an internal DfT team since 2003, to deliver a substantial change project called Flexible Deployment. Their role involved developing the hypothesis, testing this through trial implementation and delivering the agreed methodology to units across the organisation. Basis provided facilitated training for staff at all levels within the organisation. Their consultants had a lead role in the development and introduction of a bespoke IT support tool and in developing a blueprint to mesh FD with the wider DfT business process. Roll out of the system was completed in 2008/09 delivered to time and budget.
Their facilitative approach has been well received within the organisation. They have also developed a very successful working relationship with members of the internal team.
A recent independent review of the project noted that it was “well run, with a balanced process for learning and specification control, and a credit to the demonstrably strong mixed discipline team.” – Cathy Mongelard – HR Project Consultant
