Graham KingBusiness Change and Improvement Expert

No.1 Provider of Non-Execs to UK SMEs

Building the case for change in a small well established financial services company

Case Study

Graham King:I was called in to review and assess the quality of the strategic plan and the strategic planning process. And also to review and assess the existing portfolio of programme and projects and provide insight in to the relevance and likelihood of successfully delivering goals and objectives

Client:I was becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of positive progress on a well publicised corporate change agenda. Graham’s independent input was able to uncover the real causes behind the barriers and as a result we managed to determine a strategic way forward which was clearly articulated and approved by all stakeholders including the Board

Building the case for effective change

Main challenges:There was a general complacency across the organisation at all levels. Little sense of a strong need for change – comfort with the status quo. The Performance data and reporting was not informing decision making – too much reliance on anecdotal evidence where strong individual opinions dominated and influenced analysis. Market conditions camouflaged results and supported lack of action

Overcoming the challenges:Interviewed key stakeholders at all levels, uncovered and shared real evidence that revealed root causes. Built a strong case for change and used it to re-engage with key stakeholders. Built the change programme and business case and identify the key resources required to deliver it and the key dependencies

What value was your role to them:Factual and objective evidence on performance without history or baggageNew and persuasive evidence collected through an open and fully transparent and engaging processProcess encouraged challenge at all stages – each challenge systematically and objectively resolvedFor the first time a case for change and a strategic way forward was clearly articulated and approved by all stakeholders including the Board

Building the case for effective change

Profile: Graham King

My main focus with regards to SME’s: SME’s that are seeking to understand and then deploy the key

levers for the next stage of their development and success I can provide objective and experienced counsel, insight and

support for owners, CEO’s, Boards who are so close to and engrained in the day to day challenges that they would appreciate help to elevate their thinking to see the bigger picture

Provide acquired knowledge and experience that an SME may not yet have acquired or yet have recognised would be useful

Act as a sounding board and personal developer – in the form of a mentor or coach – to key executive[s] who have identified issues that need to be resolved but where real cause has still to be uncovered

Provide an additional and experienced source of leadership input on a growing number and increasingly complex range of business challenges

SME’s provide non-executives with an opportunity to continue to sharpen their knowledge and experience and add increasing value in a significantly important and growing sector of business

NXD is the No.1 Provider of Non-Execs to UK SMEs

Wanting to grow their business to the next level

Concerned that their business is getting too big to manage

Frustrated with persistent and damaging issues

Facing new types of challenges in the future

Preparing their business for succession or sale

Needing a high quality, independent sounding board

NXD non-executives have substantial commercial experience that enables them to act as a seasoned sounding board. They also have the commercial acumen to help you improve your financial performance. Non-exec services include: Vision, strategy, planning Fund raising Succession planning, acquisition &

exit

Geographical and product expansion. Leadership coachingNXD non-executives operate across the full range of industry sectors including: AutomotiveBusiness ServicesCharities & Not For ProfitEnergy & ChemicalsFinancial ServicesGovernment/Public SectorHealthcare & PharmaceuticalsIndustrial ManufacturingICT/TechnologyLeisure & TourismMedia/Advertising/PRProperty & ConstructionRetail & Consumer GoodsTransport and LogisticsUtilities

NXD is a network that provides non-executive services to SMEs. Challenges that the NXD non-executives work with business owners to address include: