House in Order programme

Estuarium keeps things simple and straightforward. It also makes sure this stays in place. For its clients and its projects, Estuarium follows its own House in Order approach. House in Order can be used by clients and it has been designed to provide an efficient way to bring things back to base. House in Order is step-wise and process-oriented. It makes use of two models: Back to Basics and Hans Brinker.

The Back to Basics model examines work process flows, maps these to make them clear and common, illustrates what is expected of everyone and how this relates to the primary process. Back to Basics looks at interface and what one party must deliver the next for it to do its part faultlessly. Through Back to Basics we see, understand and validate the rationale for process and action steps. We see what is missing or superfluous. Back to Basics provides a documented, retrievable, easy to understand process map upon which new changes can be patterned. Doing this keeps the rigour on simplicity and transparency. Clear understandable, tested processes showing new changes and how these deliver the client’s goals.

Back to Basics comes with performance measurements displayed on readily accessible, tailored scorecards held within a Back to Basics web site. The site gives one-click access to key documents such as policy, budget, costs, risks; it is a place of corporate knowledge.

Estuarium likes things to stay simple and straightforward. However, things do go wrong; things are forgotten, complaints can increase, budgets can seem inadequate. For itself and its clients, Estuarium uses the Hans Brinker model. When things move out of control, the Hans Brinker model is brought into action. It attempts to halt things getting worse whilst giving time to find the root cause and pilot correction. Hans Brinker draws staff who normally carry out tasks into understanding the bigger picture and how they can influence and the combination and sequence of tasks. Through Hans Brinker staff not only carry out tasks but become process owners.

House in Order is a four steps programme. It starts and takes time making clear what the problems are. The better this is done the better any change will be. Problems are described in general terms, using feelings or inference or hard data. Different people will have different views of the problem or that it even exists. And that is all to the good because in step two Estuarium validates the problem; drawing in facts and figures, testing and confirming.

In step two, we use a variety of methods such as interviews, desk research, observations and inventory. We do this so you can set the amount of disturbance and interactions we have with your organisation. This can be set to increase awareness and expectation of change or set to not to be at all visible until you decide it is time. What Estuarium collects, analyses and makes conclusion from is put into an advisory report and presented.

Step three is where change takes place. Making work packages, forming projects, setting up a project campaign are all ways Estuarium uses to balance resources with getting results in the desired time. Initiatives and projects can vary widely. This can be drawing staff away from their usual work to work in rapid 3-month projects empowering and unleashing talent, to evolutionary approaches where staff are given specific annual goals, to letting Estuarium place its won project team. We give a lot of consideration to how work and tasks should be distributed within your organisation and how your other initiatives have importance to you.

In step three we also focus on control and setting up your knowledge base and interface. We agree what the key control points are and how these can be measured and trended. We set up the Hans Brinker model and analyse activities and their interrelationships.

Finally, we work on step four where we deliver the Hans Brinker Interface and all documents, work instructions, processes, governance and policies you have decided on. These you access via your intranet making it possible for you to have an overview of operational performance. When that performance falls, back either because staff are late with tasks or a key measure is off target then you can drill down to what is causing it.

Within House in Order, we also offer project management support, interim management, staff development and coaching. We can benchmark, carry out risk assessments, set up annual budgets, put in place cost control and purchasing controls. These depend on the extent of the problem and what you choose as needed.

Regardless of whatever Estuarium has done, its goal is that your house is in order and continues to be so.

Estuarium translates knowledge into business activity models. The Hans Brinker model exceeded my expectations. Andy Boyd
Visiting professor Knowledge Mangement at the London School of Economics

info@estuarium.nl