Strategic issues

To see efficiency and effectiveness improvements delivered successfully, it is important that all the conditions for success are met. Evidence also suggests that there are strategic issues that are particularly important for senior managers to consider and act upon. Such managers will not normally be operationally responsible for the delivery of efficiencies. However, their actions and involvement are crucial to the success of the enterprise. In order for their management teams and staff to deliver efficiencies successfully, evidence suggests that senior managers need to:

• Ensure they are fully committed to changes underway, and are prepared to sustain that support throughout the process of change
• Ensure there is a commonly understood strategic vision for the organisation, and that changes will directly help deliver its aims
• Communicate directly with staff about the changes
• Get involved in change processes, for example as part of a project team
• Embed drivers for change throughout the organisation’s systems and processes
• Generate support for changes amongst middle managers, as they are crucial to successful outcomes.