Capacity Management

You are aware of the change you need to deliver, but in an environment of increasingly complex and resource-hungry programmes, you have no way of knowing whether you are over-committing your organisation.

Do you have the people, funds and other key resources required to deliver, and if not, then how can you take a structured approach to identifying, quantifying and mitigating capacity gaps before they result in bottlenecks, conflicts and under-delivery?

How we can help you

Our capacity management approach follows an Identify-Analyse-Mitigate framework.

At the outset organisations generally have the knowledge of their business to know what the delivery ‘bottlenecks’ are, and we encourage up-front identification and focus on these strategic resources.

Next, we work with the organisation to analyse the requirement for these resources in the change effort, and to quantify any potential surpluses or gaps. This then provides the input for management decision-making on how to mitigate imbalances by addressing either the supply or demand sides of the equation. The framework has the following features:

• Focusing analytical effort on key areas (such as 20% of resources providing 80% of the capacity risk) and encouraging highlevel, enterprise-wide thinking as opposed to micromanagement.
• Emphasis on the need to correctly understand the planned change portfolio, as a necessary input to capacity management.
• Assurance that the organisational leadership is prepared and able to take mitigating actions – capacity management only provides benefit if it informs good decision-making (for example, by prioritisation).
• Recognition of capacity management as a capability which requires a ‘continuous improvement’ mindset – the capability must be nurtured and enhanced.

How we would work with you

We typically provide a small support team which works with management representatives from all parts of the affected organisation, in order to develop the capability to identify, analyse and mitigate capacity constraints. Often, we find that the journey itself – getting to that increased awareness of capacity constraints – is as important as the result, and is key to transferring capability to in-house staff.

We also ensure that there is strong leadership buy-in, particularly through the governance of the capacity management initiative. Development of capacity management capability often involves ‘going through complexity to get to simplicity’, and it is important to have leaders signed up to the investment at the out-set.

Tools & training we can provide

Our Capacity and Resource Planning (CARP) framework comprises a set of proven management tools and products which allow a fast start in terms of working with our clients to enhance their capacity management capability.

How this could deliver value for you

Our capacity management approach has helped organisations to proactively manage capacity bottlenecks which had previously hampered a range of large and complex programmes. Through working with all affected stakeholders, we have seen transformations take place to the point where strategic resources have become a ‘second currency’ within the organisation, utilisation of which has become an integral part of business planning.

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If you would like to talk to us call on the number below. Alternatively, click on the consultants email address, provide us with your details and we will call you back. We look forward to speaking to you. Contact: Email: Tel: Dom Moorhouse dommoorhouse@moorhouseconsulting.com +44 (0) 1225 446 313