The Ibis system converts as much activity within the enterprise as possible to a management by objectives approach. This creates a separate project for each item of significant expenditure, backed by a plan with a rate of return which is subject to investment appraisal and review, the “cascade investment review”.
Analysis of several years worth of data from scores of companies has identified a provisional “top ten” investments that on average the enterprise can make out of the hundreds of options available – though only 125 have been reviewed in sufficient detail to provide a general ranking.
1. Knowledge centres. The creation of a knowledge centre based system requires relatively limited investment but yields consistently massive returns for the enterprise across a number of planning and implementation functions, improving productivity, developing creativity, increasing speed of reaction, and maximising competitive advantage.
2. Recruitment appraisal. A mechanism for continually reviewing the effectiveness of the structure of the enterprise as each employee leaves provides a powerful tool for improving productivity and competitiveness. As this mechanism is continuous, the need for wide scale business process re-engineering becomes redundant providing that the system is properly applied – a further major productivity improvement. Costs are low, but returns are very high.
3. Employee suggestion scheme. The introduction of a properly managed and controlled employee suggestion scheme is inexpensive yet yields impressive quantifiable results in improvements in productivity, cost cutting and new product development.
4. Customer satisfaction. A rolling customer satisfaction programme identifies strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats for a limited investment. The impact is particularly noticeable in product/ service development and in customer care.
5. Meeting management. The introduction of a comprehensive approach to managing meetings, including the use of relevant technology and training to both reduce the number of meetings and make those that occur more productive, generates substantial returns from any required investment.
6. Tax management. Reducing the tax charge through investment in specialist advice shows up strongly as an option all enterprises should consider. Too many accept the figures generated by their generalist auditors and internal finance staff as representing the tax that should be paid.
7. Induction training. Establishing a formal mechanism for induction including the appointment of mentors and a training programme consistently generates above average productivity gains and reduces labour turnover. Costs are low and returns are high.
8. Total quality management. Investment in total quality management introduces systems such as quality circles and Deming rules at an individual level and a coherent methodology for tracking and maintaining quality at an enterprise level through appropriate audit and control systems. Overall the level of return is high both initially and over the long term.
9. Employee satisfaction. Employee satisfaction surveys identify problems with the working environment, work organisation and stress which will lead to improved productivity in the short to medium term, yielding significant returns to the enterprise.
Total productive maintenance. Investment in total productive maintenance operates at various levels throughout the enterprise in maintaining both order (the Japanese 5 “S” concept) and to generate the maximum return from the existing equipment base within the enterprise without additional often expensive capital expenditure.
Interested in more details? The Ibis planning platform provides a structured methodology to analyse the three basic questions facing the enterprise:
