Sopra Group's consultants have been delivering lean consultancy services to our clients for a number of years.  Here are just a few examples of some of the organisations we have worked with.

Background

This study resulted from a request made by RPID to Sopra Group to provide business analysis and consultancy services to analyse its debt recoveries procedures and identify possible options to resolve the debt reconciliation irregularities identified by the Audit Scotland report.

Solution

The study team interviewed key members of the RPID and Scottish Government Accounting System teams using Business Process Management and Lean Techniques such as the Rapid Improvement Event format and tools such as process modelling, pathway identification, root cause analysis and reviewed the supporting documentation produced by the recent internal and external audits  The study concurred with these findings and identified a few additional areas which would impede compliance.

Outcomes/ Benefits realised

The recommended solution combines a number of co-ordinated business change projects with the implementation of technical solutions.  It was important that the solution be flexible and able to cope with adding new schemes and policies while complying with all relevant legislation. It is likely that new schemes, payment and recovery methods will be developed over time.  The proposed business architecture allows for incremental addition of new facilities while protecting the existing functions.

The initial improvement projects have been deployed leading to considerable savings to the Scottish Government; the technical solution is awaiting budget decisions.

Lessons Learned

Simple solutions were hidden by complexity; many of the problems were caused by badly understood manual processes applied to misunderstood data.  Rapid Improvement Events identified the high level duties and obligations and allowed the detail to be compared to this overview.

Background

As part of a long running Continuous Improvement exercise Sopra Group Lean Consultants have been working with the Community Housing and Adult Social Care parts of Community Services.

Outline of work undertaken

Sopra Group consultants were commissioned by ELC to review its Homelessness service, carry out due diligence on the existing organisational structure, staffing levels and skills of ELC's Homelessness unit, identify possible improvements, re-engineer its existing Homelessness operational business processes, define the necessary future state processes, carry out activity-based costing to determine the impact on staff levels, prepare a detailed change management business improvement programme, and to assist in the implementation of these improvements. The approach used by the consultants drew on techniques from both 'lean-thinking' and 'balanced scorecard' methodologies and used Nimbus Control, the Council's preferred Process Management software, to map and manage changes to ELC's Homelessness business processes.

Outcomes/ Benefits realised

Community Housing assessment improved from D to C Elements of best practice identified and a new approach to Homelessness Prevention was identified and implemented. This team is still showing a success rate in excess of 90%.

Lessons Learned

Staff responded very well to clearly defined processes which were transparent and obviously integrated.  This is a very highly regulated area with complex areas such as mortgage to rent and unsuitable accommodation. By simplifying each of the stages consistency and throughput improved dramatically.

Background

Belfast City Council is conducting a large-scale Value Mapping exercise and is reviewing all of the key strategies used to manage the Council.

Outline of work undertaken

As part of the Value Mapping, Sopra Group consultants developed the Strategic Information Management Framework (SIMF) using Rapid Improvement and Value Stream Analysis events.  The objective being to set firm foundations for the use and management of all information including financial, operational and performance based on current and future operational needs. The emphasis of this SIMF is on ensuring that the current infrastructure is, and current systems are, robust and secure, rather than investing in new technology except where this can be shown to create cost-efficient benefits. The strategy extends the Council's investment in Intranet and web technologies, and incorporates an Electronic Document Management System (EDMS), Geographic Information System (GIS) and other corporate systems.  The SIMF will provide an "umbrella" structure within which the other initiatives can be progressed.

Outcomes/ Benefits realised

The net result of implementing the SIMF is a real and accepted benefit to the Belfast City citizen through the improved development of a wide range of online services such as: the improved range of services supplied via the contact channels; the service improvements obtained from the Process Improvement programme that translates internal improvements to external benefits; the focus on citizen social value within Project Governance and Business case development.

Underlying this initiative was the need to establish reliable and robust financial and management information to support the new performance management culture.

Lessons Learned

In a complex environment the Sopra Group consultants used Current Process Mapping, Pathway Mapping, Data Schema and face to face facilitated events to develop consensus.  This strategy has now been incorporated into BCC policy and is being deployed.