Linksbridge Ideas and Points-of-view
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Impact of New Technologies on Aid and CoordinationHow do new technologies impact coordination and information management with respect to providing aid in the aftermath of disasters? International agencies, governments and many NGOs have long enjoyed access to the latest technologies; however, this support has largely allowed for incremental (rather than transformational) improvements in efficacy and impact. Nevertheless, with the proliferation of new technologies throughout the developed and developing world (especially affordable access to mobile devices), both survivors of disasters and private donors now have access to tools that can improve the effectiveness of coordination and information management–and ultimately, aid delivery. |
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Beware Enterprise ApplicationsMost companies and organizations are familiar with the problems of custom-coded business applications, such as maintaining financial systems and web applications built in-house once the original developers move on. In contrast, marketing messages from enterprise application vendors such as SAP, Oracle and Documentum─that sell leading enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management and enterprise content management systems─are honed to appeal to executives interested in “industry-standard”, “out-of-the-box” and “scaleable” business solutions. However, Linksbridge’s experience is whether an enterprise application really is a better choice than custom coding depends strongly on the size of your organization and your ability to bend business requirements to the enterprise application’s design. |
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A Better Way to Cut CostsBusinesses and non-profits are looking hard at their costs as the current recession bites. However, organizations are often imposing a blanket squeeze on budgets across all their activities─irrespective of a business unit’s strategic importance, performance, or net contribution to cash flow. This is a mistake. Instead, business and non-profit leaders should seize the opportunity to radically reshape their business portfolios and get ready for tomorrow’s challenges as well as better meet today’s needs. Linksbridge offers ideas for how to do this and five strategies for making change stick. After all, it can be rare for boards and management teams to be focused on an urgent issue. Executives should take advantage. |
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The Linksbridge MethodWe believe that strategy consulting is a craft. Here, we publish our guide to delivering high quality projects. Our clients sometimes re-use our method for other tasks after a Linksbridge assignment has completed and their team has been through the process end-to-end. Larger firms contract us to train junior consultants in how to deliver successful projects. |
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What is Strategy Consulting?We set out what strategy consulting involves and how it adds value to companies and organizations. This playbook describes in detail what we believe makes up pure strategy consulting, business architecture and change management, and the kinds of projects we undertake. |
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Establishing a Wellness CenterThere is a growing body of evidence that human rights activists and practitioners across the world are recognizing – and seeking to address – the risks inherent to the work of caring for others. These risks include damage to physical health, mental health and spiritual well-being. They manifest in compassion fatigue, burnout, illness – and an increasing drop-out rate from the ranks of the caring professions. Activists and practitioners are beginning to talk about these risks – and seeking innovative and very practical solutions for integrating sustainability and safety into our working culture and organizations. |