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Challenges
What challenges are organisations facing when they decide to use an interim?
Challenge: it's the word that won't go away whatever business or organisation you are in, around the world. Whether in the private sector or the public sector, there are common challenges that organisations continue to face - but it is these very issues that interim management can help to provide a solution for.
We have created this section of our website for both clients and candidates, not only to understand some of the issues that our interims and executives can help with, but also as a place where you can suggest additions through your own experiences.
Below we list just some of the competitive and market challenges that we have provided interim solutions for recently, so you can gain an understanding of how interims deliver for clients and we will continue to add to this page organically to grow this as a knowledge base.
If you would like to add a specific challenge that you have faced, either as a client or a candidate, please email [email protected].
- Business Growth
- In what has been a tumultuous economic environment recently, many businesses have struggled to attain the business growth and development they require in order to remain successful. This has put enormous pressure on boards and senior stakeholders to deliver results - but without the right resources or talent in place, this is incredibly difficult. Whether it is an interim sales director who will look at your plan and refresh your sales strategy, or a business development specialist who will assess your approach to market, an interim executive can get your business growing again.
What organisational challenges have you faced either as a client or an interim? Why not share your knowledge and expertise with the Alium Partners community. Contact [email protected] with your challenge today.
- In what has been a tumultuous economic environment recently, many businesses have struggled to attain the business growth and development they require in order to remain successful. This has put enormous pressure on boards and senior stakeholders to deliver results - but without the right resources or talent in place, this is incredibly difficult. Whether it is an interim sales director who will look at your plan and refresh your sales strategy, or a business development specialist who will assess your approach to market, an interim executive can get your business growing again.
- Growth Funding
- Related to the challenge of business growth is that of growth funding. Businesses who are experiencing a resurgent environment and have identified opportunities to go to market with often enlist the help of interim experts to obtain additional funding in order to develop their company further. External input from a senior business professional who has successfully sought and obtained major additional funding in the past, perhaps through private equity organisations or similar, can be absolutely invaluable to the future of a business.
What organisational challenges have you faced either as a client or an interim? Why not share your knowledge and expertise with the Alium Partners community. Contact [email protected] with your challenge today.
- Related to the challenge of business growth is that of growth funding. Businesses who are experiencing a resurgent environment and have identified opportunities to go to market with often enlist the help of interim experts to obtain additional funding in order to develop their company further. External input from a senior business professional who has successfully sought and obtained major additional funding in the past, perhaps through private equity organisations or similar, can be absolutely invaluable to the future of a business.
- Reducing Cost
- All organisations, no matter what size, have had to become adept at reducing costs and overheads, especially in the aftermath of the global economic downturn. Businesses with established cultural and operational behaviours can sometimes find it challenging to identify cost savings and implement them successfully. A fresh perspective from an interim executive, or interim team if necessary, allows companies the opportunity to look at how they are running a business. What efficiencies can be implemented in order to help the business to increase performance? How will this affect the staff? What are the short and long term implications? These are just some of the questions that an interim manager can answer.
What organisational challenges have you faced either as a client or an interim? Why not share your knowledge and expertise with the Alium Partners community. Contact [email protected] with your challenge today.
- All organisations, no matter what size, have had to become adept at reducing costs and overheads, especially in the aftermath of the global economic downturn. Businesses with established cultural and operational behaviours can sometimes find it challenging to identify cost savings and implement them successfully. A fresh perspective from an interim executive, or interim team if necessary, allows companies the opportunity to look at how they are running a business. What efficiencies can be implemented in order to help the business to increase performance? How will this affect the staff? What are the short and long term implications? These are just some of the questions that an interim manager can answer.
- Increasing Market Share
- In a competitive environment of consistent mergers and acquisitions, increasing your market share can be a formidable task. Looking at your go to market channels, refreshing your current products and services and creating new offerings that will attract customers away from competitors, are all challenging issues for businesses. With a variety of new digital channels and the advent of big data, organisations are increasingly turning to expert interims with sales, marketing and communications backgrounds, combined with specific industry or sector relevant experience, in order to increase their presence in, or completely dominate, their chosen market.
What organisational challenges have you faced either as a client or an interim? Why not share your knowledge and expertise with the Alium Partners community. Contact [email protected] with your challenge today.
- In a competitive environment of consistent mergers and acquisitions, increasing your market share can be a formidable task. Looking at your go to market channels, refreshing your current products and services and creating new offerings that will attract customers away from competitors, are all challenging issues for businesses. With a variety of new digital channels and the advent of big data, organisations are increasingly turning to expert interims with sales, marketing and communications backgrounds, combined with specific industry or sector relevant experience, in order to increase their presence in, or completely dominate, their chosen market.
- Programme and Project Delivery
- Without doubt, one of the biggest areas that we have seen a significant increase in demand is that of project and programme management. With some companies experiencing a much more positive marketplace, projects and programmes that had been put on hold are now reactivated with fresh financial support. However, the permanent resource that was there to deliver this is no longer in the business - but the company still needs the project realised in a value-add fashion; this where interim programme managers are key. With the right experience and track record, they are able to implement and deliver the work, within a controlled timeframe and agreed cost.
What organisational challenges have you faced either as a client or an interim? Why not share your knowledge and expertise with the Alium Partners community. Contact [email protected] with your challenge today.
- Without doubt, one of the biggest areas that we have seen a significant increase in demand is that of project and programme management. With some companies experiencing a much more positive marketplace, projects and programmes that had been put on hold are now reactivated with fresh financial support. However, the permanent resource that was there to deliver this is no longer in the business - but the company still needs the project realised in a value-add fashion; this where interim programme managers are key. With the right experience and track record, they are able to implement and deliver the work, within a controlled timeframe and agreed cost.
- Procurement
- Often in organisations, the business as usual costs can go unobserved or complacency and habit can form around purchasing decisions. In response to this, many businesses require procurement professionals to assess their buying decisions, analyse their supply chains and ensure the company is still achieving value for money in the various product and services it buys or suppliers it uses. As such, the evolution of roles such as Chief Procurement Officer or Head of Procurement continues to increase as the function becomes a crucial part of an organisational structure. Interims with specific procurement experience therefore are also in demand.
What organisational challenges have you faced either as a client or an interim? Why not share your knowledge and expertise with the Alium Partners community. Contact [email protected] with your challenge today.
- Often in organisations, the business as usual costs can go unobserved or complacency and habit can form around purchasing decisions. In response to this, many businesses require procurement professionals to assess their buying decisions, analyse their supply chains and ensure the company is still achieving value for money in the various product and services it buys or suppliers it uses. As such, the evolution of roles such as Chief Procurement Officer or Head of Procurement continues to increase as the function becomes a crucial part of an organisational structure. Interims with specific procurement experience therefore are also in demand.
- Change / Transformation
- Far from being utilised to react to sudden crisis or departures, Alium Partners' interims are now increasingly used to enact major change programmes. Transformation professionals bring their extensive knowledge and expertise into a business that needs to bring about a fundamental change in processes, people, systems or structures. These expert interims understand the importance of communicating the need for change to various stakeholders effectively and then implementing the measures need for organisational success. Equally important is the ability to be able to leave a lasting legacy in a business so that the change is embedded after departure.
What organisational challenges have you faced either as a client or an interim? Why not share your knowledge and expertise with the Alium Partners community. Contact [email protected] with your challenge today.
- Far from being utilised to react to sudden crisis or departures, Alium Partners' interims are now increasingly used to enact major change programmes. Transformation professionals bring their extensive knowledge and expertise into a business that needs to bring about a fundamental change in processes, people, systems or structures. These expert interims understand the importance of communicating the need for change to various stakeholders effectively and then implementing the measures need for organisational success. Equally important is the ability to be able to leave a lasting legacy in a business so that the change is embedded after departure.
- Dealing with Cautious Markets?
- No matter what industry or sector you operate in and regardless of where you are in the world, caution and apprehension have ruled decision making. This kind of behaviour amongst customer groups can be paralysing to a business and many are unsure how to react to complete about-turns by consumers. It is in this environment that a visionary leader is needed in order to drive the business forward, engage with stakeholders and eliminate doubt in the customer mind. Experienced interim Managing Directors and CEOs are often called on to provide this sort of support to organisations who are trying to manage market fragility with success.
What organisational challenges have you faced either as a client or an interim? Why not share your knowledge and expertise with the Alium Partners community. Contact [email protected] with your challenge today.
- No matter what industry or sector you operate in and regardless of where you are in the world, caution and apprehension have ruled decision making. This kind of behaviour amongst customer groups can be paralysing to a business and many are unsure how to react to complete about-turns by consumers. It is in this environment that a visionary leader is needed in order to drive the business forward, engage with stakeholders and eliminate doubt in the customer mind. Experienced interim Managing Directors and CEOs are often called on to provide this sort of support to organisations who are trying to manage market fragility with success.
- Lack of Financial Expertise
- Post 2008, some organisations have found themselves exposed to deep financial irregularities as they have had to cut costs, implement savings and restructure in order to survive. This lack of financial expertise and accounting skills has increased the demand for interim finance directors and professionals who are able to assess financial performance and recommend and implement improvement. The growing need for "Super FDs" who have the ability to look across a business holistically at each function and department to identify where better financial models can be applied and work collaboratively is also prevalent.
What organisational challenges have you faced either as a client or an interim? Why not share your knowledge and expertise with the Alium Partners community. Contact [email protected] with your challenge today.
- Post 2008, some organisations have found themselves exposed to deep financial irregularities as they have had to cut costs, implement savings and restructure in order to survive. This lack of financial expertise and accounting skills has increased the demand for interim finance directors and professionals who are able to assess financial performance and recommend and implement improvement. The growing need for "Super FDs" who have the ability to look across a business holistically at each function and department to identify where better financial models can be applied and work collaboratively is also prevalent.
