..and can lead to some rash decisions. Reducing head count or cutting services may feel right (although tough) in the short-term but may have irrevocable negative consequences in the medium term.

The key is process awareness. Process awareness provides an understanding of the following:

• Which processes are core and which are peripheral
• Which sub-processes add-value and which do not
• Lead times and cycle times
• Capacity management
• Process definition and risk management ... and more

Without covering these areas changes to any part of the cost based is laden with danger. After all, much of the cost base is there to support processes, they are the foundation. Removing foundation without understanding what they are supporting is unthinkable. Getting on top of this is tough, really tough. What makes it harder is trying to do it from the inside with a “day job” to do and trying to deploy skills that are unfamiliar.

This is why most businesses will quite sensibly seek professional support to gain early momentum. 3t provide this support in a unique way. The solution?