New consumer awareness and customer expectations are driving change across the commercial landscape. Industry leaders everywhere are embracing the opportunities and competitive advantages that new technology creates to drive down costs, increase efficiency and reduce environmental impact, creating long-term sustainable value for shareholders and stakeholders alike.
Inevitably, the rapid pace of change will create losers, survivors and winners. Which one will you be?
With over three decades of experience at the intersection of business and technology, I've helped organisations in multiple industries devise technology strategies and leverage integrated digital solutions to achieve those goals.
Every organisation faces change at some point. Changing organisational behaviour can be expensive, risky and difficult. Poorly defined and managed projects often result in cost over-runs and failure to deliver on expectations, with boardroom casualties common. It's no wonder that most organisations avoid change wherever possible.
In a modern business world becoming increasingly reliant on constantly evolving digital technologies, change is no longer an option. Businesses are subject to increasing financial, operational and environmental pressures. Those that continue to avoid it will not survive. For organsations at the intersection of a diverse range of stakeholders, the need to balance rapidly changing commercial, regulatory, environmental and social requirements can be extremely demanding. Where does a complex business begin?
Technology isn't always the answer to a problem. When it is, there may be multiple solutions, depending on the unique circumstances of the organisation. Any organisation applying digital technology to solve their challenges must become comfortable operating in a state of perpetual change. That requires a shift in mindset and approach.
Knowing what, when and how to implement technology and change requires specialist skills and knowledge that your current employees - even in your existing IT Department - may not have. Access to resources with a new and diverse set of skills and ways of thinking - for delivery and long term operation - reduces the risks associated with technology projects to ensure a successful and sustainable business.
Executing technology and change programmes requires new skills and ways of thinking that you may not have in your business. Whether you're interested in building your own internal capability, or outsourcing to a strategic technology partner, McPhee Associates can help you to develop your IT function into a business-focused organisation capable of helping you to define and deliver your technology roadmap
Create Planning and Delivery Capability
Most organisations continue to rely on legacy systems and infrastructure that present challenges when developing new processes and ways of working and limits their ability to take advantage of advanced technology concepts. McPhee Associates can help you transform your existing infrastructure and applications landscape to meet modern standards, paving the way for process transformation and the next stage of your technology journey.
Build Foundations for Future Growth
Many port, terminal and logistics operators are exploring advanced technology concepts, such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, Blockchain and Digital Twins to understand how these concepts can be used to transform their organisation, enhance the customer experience and develop new revenue streams. McPhee Associates work with some of the most exciting technology companies in the UK. Get in touch to find out how we can help.
Applying Advanced Technology Concepts
Transformation by One Digital Nation
Whether you're just starting out on your technology journey, needing some help to put your plans into place, or already at an advanced stage and exploring the application of more advanced digital concepts, One Digital Nation can help.
The Evolution of the IT Department
Transforming your IT Operating Model
The Operating Model defines how your IT Department engages with and provides infrastructure and services to the business. Many organisations still employ a traditional model (the pyramid graphic) that is great for efficient delivery of infrastructure, equipment and software packages... but not so great for digitalisation and change.
Is this your IT Department?
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Centralised and tightly coupled, with an inward focus (IT-first)
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Designed to support the monolithic IT (large, indivisible, slow to change), with focus on efficiency and continuity of specific services
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Repeats a well defined set of processes to achieve this efficiency, but resistant to any requests that fall out of that repetitive service offer.
The modern business world changes rapidly. New business, customer or legislative requirements demand fast response. The modern IT Department needs to evolve to reflect the changing business landscape, and to manage the tightly integrated network of applications that now resides on the physical infrastructure.
Your new IT Department looks like this: -
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Decentralised, outward facing (business-first) department with a holistic view of the business landscape
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Adopts a molecular structure, integrated with the business at all levels, and understands the business at a granular level
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Demonstrates agility (flexibility and responsive to constant change) and reduces time-to-market for new business requests
Developing a New Perspective
Changing the Business-IT Relationship
In almost every organisation, Business and IT departments experience strained relationships that prevent the company achieving its full potential.
Why does this happen?
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Business and IT departments often have different goals and priorities
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Poor communication between business and IT departments can lead to misunderstandings and mistrust.
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Business personnel may not fully appreciate the capabilities and limitations of IT. Conversely, IT personnel may not fully understand the business context.
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Competition for limited resources, such as budget and staff.
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Business and IT departments may have different cultures and ways of working
As the service provider and technology domain expert, IT must transform its approach first, if it is to play a key role in helping the business to transform.
By aligning IT and organisational priorities and goals, improving engagement and developing a more complete understanding of the company, inward-focused ad-hoc service providers become business-focused, strategic technology partners delivering successful outcomes.
Change creates different roles, and requires new skills. While Business Change presents exciting opportunities for the organisation and growth opportunities for the people involved, it also creates uncertainty. People make successful change. Understanding the need for it is essential. Having a vision of the future, and their place in that vision encourages participation and personal responsibility to develop and fulfil their role in the future state.
People
New digital technology has the capacity to transform business processes. Process cannot be changed in isolation. A holistic view of the activity across all business functions identifies and avoids unintended consequences elsewhere, creating better business outcomes in a more efficient, cost-effective way.
Process
Every business operates within a unique context. The key to successful change lies in understanding how the organisation currently uses technology, and identifying the desired future state. A holistic approach ensures the right technology selections and a clear roadmap to the target operating model. Digitalisation and change plans should be flexible to accommodate new technology, changes in the operating environment and the emergence of new business opportunities.
Technology
A Holistic Approach to Business Change
Changes to a business process in isolation may have unintended consequences in other areas of the organisation. Considering all aspects of the business ensures that efforts are aligned to organisational strategy and goals, and change is integrated and sustainable. Engaging your workforce helps to identify and address potential challenges before they arise, boosting the likelihood of success.
Digitalisation and Transformation
Knowing the Difference and Applying the Process
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Where are you now?
Define your current state. Decide where you want to go and why. Identify your unique value proposition.
Know your Stakeholders
What problems are they trying to solve? What do you know about them? What do they think of you? How will you engage?
Market Position
Understand your competitors to identify your opportunities. Can you be better or unique?
Capability Assessment
Do you have the leadership, time, talent and cash to take you where you want to go? How will you fill the gaps
What is the Future State?
How will you achieve your goals? What does the business look like during the journey? How will you know when you're done?
Turn Strategy into Action!
Implement governance. Create roadmaps, goals and identify methodologies. Find the right people. Identify metrics for success
Interim Fixed-Term Contract
An ideal option when you need a temporary resource to deliver a project, cover an absence or ensure continuity in a position while you recruit a permanent resource.
Retained Services
Get the technology expertise you need, exactly when you need it. Affordable, business-friendly retained CIO & Technology Leadership packages available from one day a month
Consultancy
Support for technology leaders. Strategy reviews, technology and project/service delivery audits identifying opportunities for improvement, and more.
Ways to work with One Digital Nation
One Digital Nation provides a range of services to support businesses at all stages of the Digitalisation and Change process
Years experience in the delivery of IT Service, Technology Delivery and Business Change projects across diverse Port and Terminal operations.
Experienced IT Project and Service Delivery capability managing your Technology function while you focus on core business activities.
Scale your IT service up and down with your business. Flexible service packages create improved efficiency and costs savings for your business
Business Process Outsourcing
Kevin offered our delegates an introduction to the UK Ports sector. He is an engaging and knowledgeable speaker. His services are highly recommended.
Kevin O'Shea
Royal HaskoningDHV
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