Business Fundamentals

Nov 17, 2020

The aim of all commercially driven businesses is to ensure maximum return to the shareholder – which is inevitably measured through the finance system. This is why financial performance is the key metric monitored by the market and stakeholders, and financial dimension is the top of Kaplan and Norton’s balanced scorecard.

This is regularly forgotten. Analysis is carried out, decisions are made, plans developed and a course of action taken that is then cast in stone, and is not reconsidered to take account of changing circumstances and any revisions to the short- or long-term cost and benefit projections. Too often business activities are based on an outdated justification or historic precedent: “We are halfway through this project – we now need to see it to completion”, “We have always done it this way…”; “XYZ is our company’s core activity, of course we need to continue…”.

Collcutt Associates approach is predicated on assessing the costs and benefits of activities, and then taking an objective view on what interventions will provide the best return to the business. Our particular passion is to make the right critical decisions – which will require a degree of “agile planning” as circumstances change and flexibility is essential in the current turbulent business environment.

We will identify with you (or for you) those areas to be prioritised for the greatest impact. Our solutions could be developed around any part of your business – but they will all have the same net effect; to maximise return. We do not use a preferred templated methodology for enhancing any particular business function– but we both have backgrounds which have given us exposure to a range of tools and techniques for planning and delivering business improvement.

Our experience is grounded in a combination of conceptual understanding of leading business methods coupled with practical and successful use in real world applications. The two principals of Collcutt Associates have worked in a range of industry sectors; in strategic, operational and advisory roles; in sectors that are booming, to those that are in rapid decline (often working with the same company across both lifecycle stages). This means that we have demonstrated capabilities for identifying and pursuing those business problems or opportunities that will have the greatest impact and, along with the expertise of our broad network of associates, the specific competencies and capabilities necessary to tackle them.

Many organisations may want or need external assistance in these areas - this is where Collcutt Associates can help out. We can bring additional capacity, expertise and an external perspective. Please do not hesitate to contact Peter or Tim to discuss how these challenges apply to you!