The Cutter

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or LinkedIn here https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy


Well the UK social housing sector is a couple of months on from its Westminster enforced rent cut of minus 1%. That's not the only onslaught however, I don't have to name-check Welfare Reform, Universal Credit and Bedroom Tax, to highlight extra pressures on the sector, from our political masters.

In the last ten months I have seen some mixed reactions to the situation. A number of organisations have turned to HR in order to trim dead wood, sometimes losing valuable staff, leaving with a hefty redundancy wedge, moving swiftly into housing consultancy. In many cases dead wood still remains. The wage bill has been cut, but the consultancy cost centre may be seeing more of a hammering in the future.

Another more pragmatic and refreshing approach I have encountered, methinks may make more of the best staff and improve processes into the bargain. Refreshing systems, getting them to work well together, leveraging omni-channel, eliminate or drastically reduce double-entry and standalone spreadsheets, can do a better job of finding efficiencies.   

I have worked with a number of the latter camp in the last nine months and there is appetite for working smarter. Some move to procure new systems and that age old split between Quality and Price has been heavily discussed. In an OJEU procurement, this needs to be stated up front and organisations, the consequences of these choices. In previous times, I have witnessed ratios of 90% cost vs 10% quality. Not surprisingly, thi scan lead to some very unexpected outcomes.

While a 40/60 or 50/50 split is much more common, in the new world of 'The Cutter', I have had some very interesting discussions around this with clients I have worked with. In relation to increased costs of say £200K over five years vs a far more functional application solution, it does make budget holders wince somewhat. When you explain that could well be the salaries of just two staff salaries of £20k, saved over five years.

As someone said to me lately, I need to see what 'Good looks like', good systems can bring exceptional efficiencies. With IT doing what it does well, good staff can excel at the skills they came into housing to use in the first place. Let's let the (good) systems take the strain. Implement them properly, so we work efficiently, treat tenants and customers well and make our neighbourhoods better places.

So don't cut the quality, think beyond the budget.     

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Related Post: Thanks to Universal Credit - I am fit & working again... 

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Echo and the Bunnymen - The Cutter.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


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