This page gives an at-a-glance guide to developments in PA's deep and diverse site.
Utilities asset management: the high stakes of success and failure
Dramatic and sometimes deadly outcomes can result from ineffective asset management. Yet customer and shareholder expectations of improved efficiency and performance levels keep increasing. Only an holistic asset management framework can safely improve customer service, maximise profits and help organisations gain competitive advantage.
Achieve continuous improvement in key asset management areas – process, data, systems, people and organisation, performance management and strategy >more
Asset management – adopting and adhering to an approach to assess the current state of asset management capability, identifying areas for improvement, implementing action plans and continuously demonstrating improvement >more
Harnessing technology for defence networks
Rapid improvements and innovation in technology offer new opportunities for Network Enabled Capability and Network Centric Warfare – and the potential to realise their potential sooner. In the latest edition of NECWORKS, academic, military and industry authors consider the founding layer of technology – how it is procured, used and operated, and how defence can harness its rapid evolution.
General Sir Mike Jackson – remember that technology serves the human being >more
The latest issue of NECWORKS – authoritative commentaries from external contributors on NEC and NCW >more
Delivering successful projects for over 60 years – more about PA's defence sector expertise and capabilities >more
Insurance: Customer-centric service is critical
Focusing on product persistency in life and pensions can obscure the reality that customers’ requirements change throughout their lives. PA's latest insurance newsletter 'Perspectives' argues that the industry must look beyond any particular product wrapper, and instead help customers to move between products as their circumstances change.
Why customer persistency is critical to the life and pensions marketplace – Mark Hodges, CEO of Norwich Union Life, explains >more
Trends in European insurance – profits will be hard-won >more
Creating a more customer-centric organisation – our new journal 'PA perspective on European insurance' offers more insights into this issue >more
Real benefits from virtual worlds
The technology behind virtual worlds is rapidly being adopted to solve real world business issues. PA uses it to help clients model future products and scenarios cost-effectively, then interact with their stakeholders globally – with a minimal carbon footprint. Our seminar hosted in Second Life explores its current and future uses.
‘Getting real about business in Second Life’ – the Sunday Times report of the seminar on virtual world technology's business uses >more
Exploit the benefits of virtual worlds and participatory media – PA brings commercial experience to your new media strategy >more
The seminar video – join delegates from financial services, media, transportation, pharma, energy, telecoms… >more
PA's e-procurement expertise in Financial Times
The user-friendliness of the latest e-procurement systems is speeding their adoption. Improved information flows prevent buyers being 'picked off' by suppliers, while suppliers benefit from faster payment. And, reports the FT, PA is 'in the vanguard' of this successful approach to e-procurement with its venture company ProcServe and public sector system Zanzibar.
The FT reports how Zanzibar is being adopted – rolling-out in UK schools, Department of Work and Pensions and a Health Trust >more
Successful e-procurement systems – something in it both for buyers and suppliers >more
E-procurement for the private sector – preserve your existing e-procurement investments by integrating them with components of our hosted solution >more
Financial Times spotlights PA’s award-winning work in Georgia
The FT features PA's dramatic turn-around of the Republic of Georgia's failed electricity utility UEDC. It reports: “It was an upsetting and sometimes dangerous job… The fate of 700,000 electricity consumers was hanging in the balance.” Today, says the FT, the UEDC “stands out as a beacon of what fearless, dedicated leadership can do.”
Mission improbable – the full FT story of PA's work for the Georgian government and USAID >more
The case study of this project – the Overall Winner at the consultancy business 'Oscars' >more
More about our international development capability – PA's global reach, depth and quality of service >more
Build a high-performance supply chain
Today's market leaders are creating high-performance supply chains that deliver differentiation, cost advantage and risk mitigation. Achieving this requires a solid foundation of performance principles, competencies to sustain that performance, and the levers to control it. Above all, high-performing supply chains keep it simple and keep it visible.
Building a high performance supply chain – Above all, 'keep it simple, keep it visible' >more
Need help with your supply chain? – Download this new guide to PA's expertise >more
PA's supply chain expertise – view our skills and methods, publications, case studies and... >more
How to identify and exploit winning technologies
Working with new technologies is risky. Backing the wrong one, or adopting the right one too late, can impact your business significantly - but the rewards for getting it right can be huge. Identifying which technologies and sciences hold the greatest potential, and translating them successfully into corporate growth, can be assured by a process that we call 'Technology Foresighting'.
What is Technology Foresighting? – how PA helps clients minimise the risks and maximise rewards >more
Other technology issues in our 'Breakout' journal – enhancing product and service innovation, the Human Genome project, and... >more
More about PA's expertise in technology and innovation – delivering solutions for new products and processes from concept through to launch >more
Healthcare:
Managing risk and complexity to solve life sciences and healthcare issues
Complexity is challenging capability. Development programmes are becoming more complex than ever before; the threat of disease pandemics continues to increase; pharmaceuticals purchasing and distribution is costly and inefficient. However, there are strategies for restoring order from apparent chaos, as our Impacts journal demonstrates:
Implementing risk-based programme management – Few programmes run in the 'safe zone' – PA's experience shows how problematic programmes can be rescued – and prevented >more
Pharmaceutical procurement: the case for change – PA's new service will drive down costs, simplify administration and improve visibility of the supply chain for hospitals and manufacturers alike >more
Meeting the threat of an avian flu pandemic – Advance planning supported by simulation models can significantly improve response times and effectiveness >more
Life sciences and healthcare portal – More about PA's healthcare resources in 14 centres of expertise >more
IT innovation:
The balance between creativity and control
Successful IT innovation starts with creative ideas – but a disciplined environment is also required to overcome hurdles and turn those innovative ideas into reality. PA works closely with clients to establish the balance of inspirational thinking and disciplined action that is vital for fruitful innovation.
Get ahead by exploiting new technology – find out more about PA's IT innovation services >more
View the latest edition of 2020 – PA's publication that looks closely at innovative future technologies >more
Car criminals: your number is up – how PA helped introduce innovative automatic number-plate recognition systems to curb crime >more
Defence:
Delivering results in a dynamic environment
The defence sector's challenges range from improving acquisition performance, often in complex programmes, to realising the potential of NEC and NCW. Meanwhile governments and industry are pursuing strategic partnering relationships in the drive for efficiency and enduring change. PA's comprehensive sector knowledge and experience is generating key new insights:
Creating a winning defence team – recent challenges require government and industry to collaborate more closely than ever >more
Realising the potential of NEC and NCW – our new journal NECWORKS gives authoritative commentaries from external contributors on NEC and NCW >more
Delivering successful projects since 1943 – more about PA's defence sector expertise and capabilities >more
Insurance:
How to improve your bottom-line results
The insurance sector's long-standing focus on cost reduction implies that quick wins are unlikely, but significant cost reductions are being achieved. Profit opportunities are being unlocked by organisations that are prepared to think creatively, through for example PA's award-winning work in helping clients successfully implement 'lean manufacturing' techniques.
Get stronger – 'lean' on your people – a lean approach can deliver immediate results as well as build capability for long-term improvement >more
Profit from an increasingly competitive market – New strategies for motor insurers coping with customers who increasingly play the field >more
'PA perspective on European insurance' – our new journal offers more insights into the cost-improvement challenges facing this sector >more
IT outsourcing
Clients get the deal they deserve
PA's 2006 international IT outsourcing survey draws on experiences from outsourcing clients, suppliers and legal advisors to examine the root causes of IT outsourcing relationship failures. The findings highlight that the outsourcing community still makes mistakes that could, and should, be avoided.
Summary of survey findings – examine our international IT outsourcing survey's findings >more
Financial Times Special Report on the IT outsourcing debate – coverage of the joint PA/FT panel discussion with client, supplier and lawyer representatives >more
The PA/FT outsourcing panel discussion in full – as seen on the FT.com website >more
More about our expertise in sourcing for value – PA: the independent experts in sourcing >more
Manufacturing
The five objectives your competitors are pursuing
PA's analysis of 65 manufacturing companies finds they share five key leadership objectives: innovation, cost reduction, offshore manufacturing, supply chain and brand values. Our latest Viewpoint journal for senior executives identifies the opportunities and recommends best practice for each of these imperatives:
Introduction – what the leadership of top-performing manufacturers are executing relentlessly >more
Make it cheaper and better – we've identified opportunities for 25% cost reductions while also improving quality >more
Supply chain takes pole position – How to take and maintain a leadership position in supply chain performance to win business >more
The Zanzibar Portal
More than a marketplace
From central government to local health trusts, public funded bodies are under increasing pressure to find cost savings and improve efficiency. The Zanzibar Managed Service is PA’s fully integrated eProcurement solution – a portal for the public sector to make procurement savings a reality.
Zanzibar: PA’s eProcurement solution – the key benefits for buyers and suppliers alike >more
View the system – a chance to walk through the Zanzibar system and experience placing a fully electronic order >more
PASSL: PA Shared Services Ltd – learn more about the Zanzibar Managed Service >more
Healthcare
Solving health issues at micro and macro levels
The hypodermic syringe is fiddly, unloved and potentially dangerous. The answer – says PA's new Impacts journal – is better auto-injectors. Healthcare issues in Africa are more fundamental, such as creating a sustainable medicine supply infrastructure. PA is helping to identify a solution that enables Africa to help itself.
'Impacts' healthcare journal – the latest issue covers the future of injections, building future blockbusters, sourcing for success, and... >more
Africa: a sustainable healthcare solution – the roadmap to an African medicine supply infrastructure >more
Life sciences and healthcare portal – More about PA's healthcare resources in 14 centres of expertise >more
International development:
Refocusing donor programs that deliver benefits to people
PA believes that leadership among donors, awareness of the development cycle as a 'value chain', and empowering people to participate in solving their problems, will help create the most effective and sustainable economic and social gains for communities in need.
Introduction: how a value chain approach delivers benefits to people – deploying donor budgets for maximum economic and social returns >more
Formulating privatization policies for water – how PA helped Uzbek farmers increase yields through improved irrigation and local empowerment >more
Scaling up AIDS treatment programs in developing countries – private providers are a critical but untapped resource for delivering treatments >more
Retail sector
Effective solutions to complex issues
The retail marketplace is among the most competitive and dynamic in the world. Retailers must continually balance complexity, responsiveness and innovation to maintain customer loyalty, sales and margin. PA has developed effective solutions to the major challenges faced by retailers today, including:
Beating the odds in retail buying – how to get the best balance of product costs, lead time and re-order policies >more
Price optimisation – managing the most significant driver of retailer profitability >more
Customer insight – gain superior business performance by generating real customer insights >more
Postal sector
Can we create a bright future for mail?
The international postal market is on a path of liberalisation. Whether this leads to competitive threat or market opportunity is a subject for debate. In our new Viewpoint publication we show that, if we broaden our horizons to consider new markets and learn from other industries, we could not only protect our market – we could grow it to deliver increased revenues and profits.
Viewpoint on the postal market – broadening our horizons to consider the communications market, learn from others' experiences, and transform business models >more
2006: a year of promise in the mail market – for the first time the £6 billion UK mail market is truly opened to competitive forces >more
More about PA's expertise in the postal sector – We work internationally with postal administrations as they transition into commercial organisations >more
Aegate receives Frost & Sullivan 2005 Best Practice Award for Entrepreneurial Company
This prestigious annual award is given in recognition of Aegate's 'unique and commercially attractive solution to combat pharmaceutical counterfeiting and fraud and secure patient safety'. Ian Rhodes, CEO of Aegate, says: "We are delighted to have won this award. Analysts report that sales of counterfeit prescription medicines are forecast to reach $75 billion by the end of the decade and improvements in pharmaceutical security are needed to combat the problem".
More about Frost & Sullivan's Award to Aegate – a PA Group venture company >more
Visit the Aegate website – for full details of Aegate's award-winning service ‘Authentication at the point of dispensing’ >more
More about PA's ventures programme >more
Managing complexity: the difference between surviving and thriving
When you're battling to stabilise random, uncertain business situations, it may surprise you to learn that profound new solutions can emerge from instability and even near-chaos. PA's experience shows that any complex project can succeed if different aspects are handled in different ways:
Viewpoint – a practical guide to managing complexity – four models for handling complex projects >more
Putting complexity thinking into practice – startling solutions can emerge from instability >more
Tackling the complexities of in-car embedded systems – when car makers and software experts fail to see eye to eye >more
Retail banking: Opportunities for profits and savings in the branch network
Bank outlets are under pressure to be more retail-focused and increase branch profits, while simultaneously delivering demonstrable cost and process efficiencies in products and services - all this in the face of fast-evolving consumer and regulatory expectation. PA is pleased to showcase some of the thinking behind its successes in helping clients to master these challenges.
Tellers or sellers? – Just how 'retail' should retail financial services outlets be? >more
Revitalizing branch banking – Driving evolution by challenging traditional branch banking paradigms >more
Direct debit – friend or foe? >more
Payments, profits and the impact of SEPA >more
More about PA's expertise in financial services >more
PA makes profitable, sellable businesses out of smart ideas
The Financial Times features PA's remarkable track record in nurturing, managing and developing new corporate ventures. With PA ventures UbiNetics and Meridica successfully sold, the PA team is developing Aegate – the new drug authentication venture which can improve patient safety by identifying counterfeits and other types of fraudulent medicines to the pharmacist. >more
More about Aegate – drug authentication at the point of dispensing >more
In the fight against fake medicines, Aegate calls for improved bar-coding standards >more
More about PA's ventures programme >more
Telecoms: The technology race, fickle customers, revenue growth
Successful telecoms providers maintain traditional business disciplines while identifying clever solutions to complex challenges and competing priorities. PA's telecoms experts can help optimize your business - from negotiating network outsourcing contracts and finding new revenue sources to delivering profitable mobile data services.
Getting the right deals for legacy and next generation IP services >more
Mobile data is more about data than mobility – building the case for MNVOs to offer data services >more
PA – leaders in 3G consulting and product development >more
Healthcare: managing an era of unprecedented change
To drive the search for new drugs, the healthcare industry must generate sufficient cash – but funding is being eroded by many events. To survive and ultimately thrive, the sector's practices must change radically.
PA's unique abilities support the industry in drug discovery and commercialization, R&D productivity, the design and delivery of pharma products and drug-delivery devices. And our healthcare policy expertise helps clients plan for regulatory and payer issues, and manage the delivery of change – as these links demonstrate:
Successful delivery in a devolved health service – traditional approaches are inadequate >more
Strategies to improve R&D productivity – findings from a major US leadership summit >more
Success in the new partnering model – effectively managing transaction costs is the key >more
Transforming development productivity – the benefits of end-to-end automation >more
Postal industry: customer insight – the route to success
The postal industry is facing accelerating change and increasing competition. Under these pressures, the need for postal service providers to understand their customers – what they need, what they value – is vital. With PA's sector knowledge and skills, service providers can drive their market – not just respond to it.
Postal customers' needs in the 21st century >more
Developing services for recipients of mail – survey results >more
The skills and experience of PA's postal industry consultants >more
Wireless: radical change is sweeping through the mobile world
Technical, market and regulatory changes are breaking the stranglehold of incumbent mobile players. The boundaries between fixed and mobile operators are breaking down; new entrants are offering niche products and services; and regulators are distancing themselves from setting standards. How can you best defend against and exploit these trends ?
'On wireless' newsletter – Equipment vendors are cutting costs and moving up the value chain >more
New wave of handset manufacturers – They design and build handsets for branding with OEMs' names >more
Leaders in 3G consulting and product development – PA's end-to-end capabilities in 3G, from handset strategy and infrastructure development to service design and IPR expertise >more
Do or die: reinvent your supply chain – before your customers do it for you
The pace of change in supply chains is accelerating – and the expectations of customers are continually rising. Consolidation and restructuring will present opportunities and threats to your business – yet restructuring supply chains is complex and risky... To make the right decisions quickly – with minimum risk – you need responsive advice and assured delivery. PA changes supply chain threats into opportunities for our clients in innovative ways:
Three routes to successful supply chain improvement >more
Avoiding expensive mistakes in supply chain decision-making >more
The RFID revolution – should you act or react? >more
More about PA's expertise in supply chain improvement >more
