Sustainability

As an organization, how do you take the first steps toward sustainability?

Sustainability in your organization

The-first-step-to-sustainability-in-your-organization

In today's rapidly evolving world, sustainability is increasingly seen as not only an ethical, but also a business sense. Organizations committed to a sustainable path are experiencing numerous benefits, including cost savings, increased efficiency and a positive impact on the environment. But as an organization, how do you take the first steps toward sustainability?

Miriam Maan

Netherlands

The first step to Sustainability in your organization

Strategy & Change

Gamification is a scalable change approach to achieve sustained desired behavior

Gamification for behavioural change

whitepaper-gamification-for-behavioural-change

Gamification is a scalable change approach to achieve sustained desired behavior and improve performance in the workplace.

Whitepaper: Gamification for behavioural change

Organizational

Challenges around organizational transformation within large, Dutch organizations

Organizational transformation challenges

whitepaper-five-challenges-around-organizational-transformation

Five challenges around organizational transformation according to leaders within large, Dutch organizations and our reflections on them.

Whitepaper: Five challenges around organizational transformation

Innovative compliance therefore creates more ethical behavior.

Research compliance and innovation

white-paper-research-compliance-and-innovation

An innovative compliance program makes for an effective compliance program. Innovative compliance therefore creates more ethical behavior.

White paper: Research compliance and innovation

Exemplary behavior of leaders is crucial with integrity issues.

Moral leadership – the theme of this time

whitepaper-moral-leadership-the-crucial-theme-of-this-time

The exemplary behavior of leaders is crucial to reduce the reputational risk of integrity issues within your organization.

Whitepaper: Moral leadership – the crucial theme of this time

For an effective game fulfilling the conditions is crucial.

The 6 ingredients of an effective game

whitepaper-the-6-ingredients-of-an-effecitve-game

To ensure that a game is truly effective and contributes to the organizational objectives, fulfilling the conditions is crucial.

Whitepaper: The 6 ingredients of an effective game

Government and Public Sector

Shadow IT, how do you deal with it?

Shadow IT appears unstoppable

shadow-it-appears-unstoppable-how-do-you-deal-with-it

Shadow IT is defined as the IT within an organization that does not fall under the responsibility and management of the organization's (central) IT department. There is an increasing presence of shadow IT in organizations, especially due to the wide range of cloud services available and the increasingly adopted bring-your-own-device policy. It seems to be an ever-growing challenge for IT departments to manage shadow IT. IT departments will need to let go of some responsibilities while setting clear boundaries for shadow IT.

Pim Schouten

Shadow IT appears unstoppable, how do you deal with it?

Digital

Turning principles into successful collaborative practices

The practice of working in ecosystems

the-practice-of-working-in-ecosystems

In blog 1, we elaborated on why it's essential to shift from thinking in silos to thinking in ecosystems. In blog 2, we explained five principles that make collaboration in ecosystems successful. In this third blog, we provide some examples of these five principles in practice. We'll give you the payoff in advance: Managing ecosystems starts with yourself!

Cleo van Engelen

5 principles for making ecosystem collaboration work

Collaboration in ecosystems

5-principles-for-making-ecosystem-collaboration-work

In blog 1, we elaborated on why it is important to shift from thinking in silos to thinking in ecosystems. It's the essence of the transition to a digital world. In blog 2, we explained five principles that characterize collaboration in ecosystems.

From silos to ecosystems: the essence of digital transition

Why thinking in ecosystems pays off

Why-thinking-in-ecosystems-pays-off

From silos to ecosystems 
Silo thinking is out, and "ecosystem" is the new buzzword. It encapsulates the essence of transition thinking, the transition to a digital society. This blog, in three parts, explains why it is important, which principles drive success, and how you can take steps in this direction. In this first part: why thinking in ecosystems pays off.

Embracing Polysourcing: Hybrid IT governance for decentralized success

Polysourcing demands different IT governance

polysourcing-demands-radically-different-it-governance-2

In this second blog on the consequences of IT decentralization, I will address how organizations should reshape their IT governance.

Polysourcing demands radically different IT governance (2)

Polysourcing and decentralized IT governance: strategic responsibility balanced

Polysourcing demands for different governance

polysourcing-calls-for-radically-different-it-governance-1

IT is becoming increasingly decentralized. This leads to fragmentation of IT activities. To ensure that IT still contributes maximally to the organization's strategic objectives, you will also need to decentralize parts of your IT governance. In two blogs, I will explain the cause of decentralization, its impact on outsourcing, and how organizations should restructure their IT governance. This first blog focuses on the cause of decentralization and introduces polysourcing, a new sourcing form that goes beyond multisourcing.

Polysourcing demands radically different IT governance (1)

Media and entertainment

Effective growth strategies for media firms

Media growth: Organic or acquisitions?

organic-or-acquisitions-which-growth-is-more-effective-for-media-companies

"Anyone who does what they can already do, always remains what they already are." This quote from the American automotive pioneer Henry Ford is more relevant than ever. Today, innovation and investment are required. Growth is not just an option, but a necessity for media companies.

Hendrik Langen

Germany

Organic or acquisitions – which growth is more effective for media companies?

A Highberg customer story: European procurement through green glasses

European procurement through green glasses

Groene bril bud helisson kqguzgv Yrt M unsplash

Every four or five years it comes around again: procurement. The Dutch government constantly has to deal with contracts expiring that then have to be put out to tender again. So too do the Dutch provinces. Their telephony contracts expired in 2018, so in 2017 they joined forces (for the 3rd time) to jointly market their telephony with Provincial Telephony 2017 (PT2017). This is more efficient than each on their own and because of the size, they are an attractive party for the market. This allows them to make serious cost savings, both on the procedure (working together more efficiently) and on the contracts (buying larger). This involved fixed and mobile telephony connections, mobile devices and the construction and maintenance of indoor (in-house) coverage facilities for telephony, divided into five lots.
Cooperation with Highberg (fka VKA) was sought and found early in the process for the additional procurement and telephony expertise for the core team of provinces.

Rick de Rooij

The Next 5 years decide

Transformation endgame (part 1)

transformation-endgame-the-next-5-years-decide

Newspaper publishers are facing the biggest challenge they have ever faced in their history. The next few years demand radical action. Even if you only hear the wind rustling softly in the distance: the storm is coming, and it is brutal.

Christoph Mayer

Transformation endgame (part 1) - the next 5 years decide

A Highberg customer story: The Nutrition Center's new canteen scan

The Nutrition Center's new canteen scan

The Nutrition Center is the authority that gives consumers reliable and independent information about a healthy, safe and sustainable diet. The 'Disk of Five' is familiar to many people, but in addition the Nutrition Center also provides advice on 'eating environments' and how organizations can achieve a responsible food supply. The starting point is to let the healthy choice be the easy choice.

Wilbert Enserink

A Highberg customer story: Cals College Digital, Secure and Transparent

Cals College Digital, Secure and Transparent

Good ICT support as key to flexible education

Due to the increasing digitization of education and the introduction of the AVG, security and careful handling of (personal) data and supporting resources have become increasingly important. This is also observed by the Cals College, a secondary school community with two branches: one in Nieuwegein and one in IJsselstein. The Cals has recently taken a professionalization step in the field of information management, privacy and information security. In this process, Highberg advised and provided and implemented methods to get a better grip on the management of ICT, privacy and information security. In addition, Highberg fulfills the role of Data Protection Officer (FG) and Privacy Quartermaster.

Wim Kok

Data & AI

Digital Strategy & Execution

A customer story on ClimateControl and Rotterdam municipality's energy transition measured

Rotterdam municipality's energy transition

Rotterdam dennis moller 946 Xe Vr YO2 E unsplash

The Municipality of Rotterdam, like other municipalities, has the task of saving CO2 and achieving a decrease in CO2 consumption. In Rotterdam, this task is quite complicated given the environment it faces. The Rotterdam port area and many buildings are responsible for large CO2 emissions. Various departments are working together, with the Sustainability department in the vanguard, to carry out this complicated task. In addition, in the form of the Climate Agreement, the municipality is also engaging other parties outside the official organization, such as businesses, residents and civil society organizations, in order to give the transition more clout.

Lotte Meindertsma

ClimateControl: making Rotterdam municipality's energy transition measurable

Technology and Telecommunications

The challenge for Philips is to involve all employees in the execution of commitments

The Philips Sustainability Challenge​

The philips sustainability challenge

In 2020, Philips announced its ESG commitments for 2025: a comprehensive set of key commitments and ambitious targets across all the Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) dimensions. ​Currently, the main challenge for Philips is to involve all employees in the execution of these commitments. This requires employees to become aware of the ESG commitments and ambitions, understand how they can contribute from their own role and context, and requires them to adopt and execute new behaviors. ​

Jody Pietersz

The Philips sustainability challenge​

Retail and Consumer Goods

Ndugu Coffee's mission is to make agribusiness sustainable for all stakeholders involved

Dashboarding & business development

dashboarding-business-development-for-sustainable-growth

Ndugu Coffee is a social enterprise with a mission to make agribusiness sustainable for all stakeholders involved.

Dashboarding & business development for sustainable growth

Optimize IT governance: from central control to decentralized autonomy

IT Governance, can it be more decentralized?

it-governance-can-it-be-more-decentralized

Departmental applications have been replaced by large, cross-departmental applications. Registrations are reused. Underlying infrastructure has been standardized or moved to the cloud. The control of this IT is detailed and mostly centralized. This way, the current stability can be ensured, and changes can be controlled (and compliance checkboxes can be ticked!). But are the primary processes still adequately supported? Do we still know centrally for whom and why we do things? Or do we let things slide?

(High Tech) Manufacturing and Logistics

Pon had the need for support in initiating a group-wide digital transformation

Pon - Initiating digital transformation

Pon digitale transformatie opstarten

Pon is a global player in the field of mobility products, services, and solutions, also offering hundreds of industrial solutions. Within the Pon Equipment &amp; Pon Power (PEPP) division, discussions about the opportunities and possibilities of digitization had been ongoing for some time. However, the implementation of these digital opportunities faced challenges, and the desired results were not forthcoming. This led to the need for support in initiating a group-wide digital transformation to better leverage the opportunities offered by (further) digitization.

Financial Services

Ymere aims to become an efficient and results-oriented organization

Cost-effective through data-driven working

Ymere cost effective through data driven working

Ymere is driven by its mission to provide more people with modest incomes a good home in the Amsterdam metropolitan region and aims to become an efficient and results-oriented organization.

Ymere – Cost-effective through data-driven working

AFM is optimizing and digitizing its levy process

Establishment of the levy process at AFM

Establishment of chain collaboration and control of the levy process at afm

The Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) is optimizing and digitizing its levy process. An advisory report has been developed by Highberg, and the next step is implementation. This involves setting up cross-departmental (chain) collaboration with effective governance and meeting structures, communicating the change, and involving the organization.

Establishment of chain collaboration and control of the levy process at AFM

Healthcare and Life Sciences

As the existing strategy was no longer current, Menzis aimed to establish a new vision

Customer service strategy development

Menzis strategieontwikkeling klantbediening

Menzis has the mission to strengthen the vitality of every individual by ensuring high-quality and affordable healthcare. Customer &amp; Operations (C&amp;O) is responsible for all operational insurance processes, customer interactions, and is the largest cluster within Menzis with 600 employees. As the existing strategy was no longer current, the director of C&amp;O, who took office in 2020, aimed to establish a new vision that transcends the cluster.

Menzis – Customer service strategy development

Energy and Utilities

After a long period of stability, Enexis is under pressure

Guiding year plan process for the BOD and EB

guiding-year-plan-process-for-the-board-of-directors-and-executive-board

After a long period of stability, Enexis is under pressure to increase productivity and reduce costs to accelerate the energy transition

Guiding year plan process for the board of directors and executive board

UNICEF has the ambition to be as agile as possible to help more children, faster

Leadership development UNICEF

leadership-development-UNICEF

UNICEF provides assistance to children worldwide and advocates for their rights. As the world's largest child rights organization, UNICEF reaches more children in more places than anyone else, with the ambition to be as agile as possible to help more children, faster.

A new service concept for the Homeless Desk of the Municipality of The Hague

From work pressure to work happiness

from-work-pressure-to-work-happiness

The Homeless Desk of the Municipality of The Hague provides assistance to the homeless, and due to the high urgency of their work, the team experiences high levels of work pressure. The goal was to establish a new service concept at a new location (driven by hospitality) with the aim of increasing the quality of service and improving the job satisfaction and working conditions of the employees. It is crucial that these improvements are sustainable and lead to lasting change.

To enhance debt relief an analysis was conducted and a game was created

Processing time debt settlement with a game

NVVK - debt settlement softened through game

The NVVK is the largest industry association for debt assistance and financial services. To enhance debt relief, Highberg conducted an analysis, implementing four interventions. The primary component was a game called the NVVK Expedition, co-created with the NVVK.

Elselieke van Aken

Processing time debt settlement phase sortened through use of game

We guided Ctac in their organizational transformation

Organizational transformation with CTAC

organizational-transformation-with-ctac

We guided Ctac in their organizational transformation focusing on the axes of processes, governance, behavior, and leadership, with the goal of achieving higher returns, increased employee satisfaction, and enhanced customer satisfaction.

Manouk Hertogs

The HR department of ProRail aimed to achieve an Agile transformation

Agile transformation ProRail

agile-transformation-prorail-increasing-agility-and-customer-centricity

ProRail is responsible for the railway network in the Netherlands. Together with transport companies, they work 24/7 to ensure that passengers and goods arrive safely and on time at their destinations. The HR department of ProRail aimed to achieve an Agile transformation.

Agile transformation ProRail - increasing agility and customer centricity

People, Leadership & Culture

Organizations cannot perform at a higher level than the awareness of its leadership

How others perceive our leadership

Leadership Circle Profile

"An organization cannot perform at a higher level than the awareness of its leadership", said Bob Anderson, founder of the Leadership Circle. This statement touched me deeply when I getting certified for the Leadership Circle Profile™, together with my colleagues.

Elise le Nobel

Leadership Circle Profile: A route to sustainable development of leaders and organizations

Look at it from a new perspective, from a systemic lens

Do you feel like you're moving in circles?

Systemisch werken met 3 simpele vragen

Do you sometimes notice that the energy is leaving the room? Do you keep wondering why that is, but you can't put your finger on it? Do you recognize the feeling that at the end of the working day you feel like you're moving in circles, and that your attempts to break through don't help? That the energy you put into all these attempts seems to be for nothing? ...  Yes, does this sound familiar? Then I might have a solution for you. To look at it from a new perspective, from a systemic lens.

Lianne Swenne

Having a systemic perspective with 3 simple questions

We all know Lencioni's pyramid, right? At Highberg, we go further than just the model

Using the Lencioni's pyramid

Our lencioni on the floor approach

We all know Lencioni's pyramid, right? At Highberg, we go further than just the well-known model. The road to a high-performing team seems simple on paper, but in truth is quite challenging. First, let's define a 'high performing team': a team that communicates and collaborates extremely effectively at the highest level to achieve common goals.

Natascha Renkers

Our 'Lencioni on the floor' approach

A merger of seven consulting brands. Learn more about us and what we can do for you.

We are Highberg

Highberg originated from seven boutique consulting firms, each with best-in-class expertise in organizational, digital, and sustainability transformations. Our joint ambition is to build the leading transformation consulting firm in Europe, with one mission:​ 
"Being the best partner for our clients in organizational, digital and sustainability transformation through our combined expertise. We strive for change that has lasting impact on organizations and their people" ​

Aligning business needs and IT: Optimizing information management for success

Why doesn't the IT team deliver?

why-doesnt-the-it-team-deliver

Many people think that as an IT consultant, I'm primarily focused on technology. Nothing could be further from the truth. In my daily practice, I often come across IT and Information Management challenges that aren't solely about technology. In cases like these, I differentiate between cause and effect. For example, the IT department doesn't deliver the right products or services. This is an effect. Perhaps the cause is that the right products or services weren't properly described or requested. Only by asking the right question do you get the right answer (and subsequently a fitting solution). In this blog, I'll delve into the role of "the business" in IT and Information Management challenges.

Building truly valuable services

Valuable services are sensible-by-design

Truly valuable services are sensible from the initial design

Our environment demands more and more from (government) service delivery. Service must comply with laws and regulations, restore the 'human dimension', and be more sustainable. Each organization has its own beliefs and priorities in this regard. This diversity of expectations raises the question, 'How do we make progress at all?'

Dashboarding & business development for sustainable growth

Challenge

Approach

Results

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