Housing Association Case Study

Major North East Housing Association

Strengthening leadership, strategy and organisation structure...

To achieve transformational change

A major Housing Association based in the North East

Whilst on a firm foundation, the difficult economic environment made it necessary for the Association to re-examine its overall business plan and examine its best strategic options
Need to examine behaviours within the Corporate Management team and resolve 'tensions' that had developed within key relationships
Need to address leadership skills generally within the Corporate Management team
There were concerns around the overall effectiveness of the Board – in particular in providing robust 'challenge' to the Executive Management team
The organisation needed to ready itself in preparation for the new TSA regulatory regime
The organisation structure was 'inherited' from a local government culture with multiple layers leading to a lack of role clarity, fragmentation of responsibilities and accountabilities

Held a series of executive management workshops to thoroughly examine: the current external economic and sector background; key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats; strength of key stakeholder relationships; internal and external opportunities, capabilities and choices; key goals and objectives within the core business; potential futures for the organisation using 'Scenario Thinking' as a tool
Developed improved management mechanisms to enable the Executive team to remain focused on strategic / corporate issues whilst clearly devolving accountability for operational management to departmental staff
Improved KPI reporting structures and content
In-depth profiling and action planning exploring 'emotional intelligence' and Corporate Management teams' individual leadership style, character, behaviour and their impact on colleagues
Series of organisation structure development workshops with the Executive and Corporate management teams to define the optimised organisation structure and implementation plan
Supported the selection of new executive directors
Defined structures for improved overall Board effectiveness
Assisted the association to prepare for external short notice inspection under the new TSA regime

Significant strengthening and re-focusing of executive management team, resolution of key 'tensions. Improved collective strategic thinking amongst executive and departmental managers
Re-definition of the key roles and responsibilities and clarity of purpose between the executive and departmental management teams
Defined significantly strengthened organisation structure to enhance the achievement of corporate goals and objectives, reduce management layers, clarify roles and responsibilities, and significantly reduce managerial costs
Strengthened Board capability
Positive outcome from external audit (one of the top 3 for customer service in the UK)