The biggest concern hindering big business improvements, is the fear of change. Or more precisely, what could go wrong in the process...

And rightfully so.

The promised land of a digitally transformed business looks great, more time, less confusion, happier team, happier customers, healthier bank balance.

But what are the ingredients of successful change?

At Flowlens, we have worked with hundreds of businesses over the years, helping them transform processes, unlock efficiencies and propel growth.

Understanding The Problem
Many businesses come unstuck in a change programme, because they haven't clearly defined the problem. The processes and ways of working that have held a business together are part of the culture, but because they are second nature, they are taken for granted. Successful change comes through self examination. Taking time as a team to map out how things work currently, (or not as the case may be) lets you see where change is possible, and necessary. It lets everyone in the team understand and agree on the problem, and how it impacts colleagues, customers and the bottom line.

No Pain No Gain
This is a fundamental truth. There is a comfort in the existing ways of working. They might be laborious and error-prone, but they are understood. They make you feel like you've done a day's work, irrespective of how inefficient they might be. We see some businesses fall at this hurdle. The realisation that there will be MORE work to do for a period of time, before it gets easier.

No, it's 'easier' to stick with the fire-fighting.

For change to happen, be prepared to put the work in, but....

Don't Boil The Ocean
Again, the promised land beckons, but you still have a business to run. Successful change programmes are incremental. Yes they are working to a vision that everyone can get behind, but, and it's back to understanding the problem, there should be a series of clear priorities, quick wins and ways to make a small impact that frees up time for the next change.

Of course there is so much more to this, so if you'd like more detail on the techniques and steps, why not download my guide to successful business software change?

Tell Me Your Story...
Please hit reply, I am always curious to learn from others' experience. What are your "do's and don'ts" of change? What mistakes have you made and would avoid repeating? The successes you'd love to share?

Kind regards,

Richard Dale
CEO @ Flowlens Ltdm: 07737 405831  w: flowlens.com

Check out our latest product and customer videos on Youtube.

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TENDERS
 

For Northern Ireland specific contracts, there are a number of sources of information specifically for contracts within Northern Ireland. The Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) handles contracts for a number of government departments.

160916 - - Economic and Sustainabilility Impact Assessment for Ireland of the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement
Publication date:  29-11-2019
Response deadline:  10-01-2020 17:00   Irish time
Procedure: 2. Open Procedure (OJEU)
Description: On 28 June 2019, the European Union and Mercosur states - Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay – reached a political agreement for an ambitious, balanced and comprehensive trade agreement as part of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement. The agreement in principle is subject to the final transcription into the texts and the respective market access offers. Subsequently, in the EU’s case, it is subject to approval by the European Council and European Parliament, and ratification by the national parliaments of EU member states. The Government of Ireland has committed to undertaking a full Economic and Sustainability and Impact Assessment (ESIA) for Ireland of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, including economic, social, environmental and human rights impacts.
Buyer: Department of Businesss, Enterprise and Innovation

161213 - TCD-19-98 - Request for Proposals for a Volunteer Management System for the Student 2 Student service at Trinity College Dublin
Publication date:  29-11-2019
Response deadline:  10-01-2020 14:00   Irish time
Procedure: 1. Open Procedure (NON OJEU)
Description: 
Buyer: Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin

161130 - - Services to deliver SAR Aviation & Tasking Course (SATaC)
Publication date:  29-11-2019
Response deadline:  03-01-2020 12:00   Irish time
Procedure: 1. Open Procedure (NON OJEU)
Description: The Irish Coast Guard, (IRCG) a division of the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport wishes to secure the services of an Authorised Training Organisation (ATO), with an Irish Aviation Authority or equivalent approval certificate, to deliver a course tailored to meet the specific needs of the Irish Coast Guard. The course is referred to as SAR Aviation and Tasking course (SATaC), and is modelled on parallel commercial aviation, operations and dispatch courses.
Buyer: Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

161052 - - The supply of Stationery and Office Supplies
Publication date:  29-11-2019
Response deadline:  08-01-2020 17:30   Irish time
Procedure: 2. Open Procedure (OJEU)
Description: The supply of Stationery and Office Supplies to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
Buyer: Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

161237 - LEO 2020 Food/Drink Producers - Midlands Artisan Food/Drink Producers Development Programme
Publication date:  29-11-2019
Response deadline:  20-12-2019 12:00   Irish time
Procedure: 1. Open Procedure (NON OJEU)
Description: Local Enterprise Office Laois has secured funding to deliver a “Midlands Artisan Food & Drink Producers” programme in 2020. The programme will be delivered as a partnership between the Local Enterprise Offices of four Midlands based counties – Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Longford. It is envisioned that five small artisan food and drinks producers from each county will participate (twenty businesses to participate in total). Four separate themes have been identified for this programme: Production innovation and design within the food and drinks sector; Food and drinks producers in the digital age; Increasing competitiveness through a lean approach; Exporting to overseas markets in the Brexit environment. Each theme will be delivered through a combination of group training and one to one mentoring as outlined in the attached document. Local Enterprise Office Laois is now inviting tenders from service providers who would be interested in the delivery of training and mentoring relating to one or more of these themes.
Buyer: Laois County Council

161143 - Bird Surveying Services - Bird Surveying Services for the Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS), Co Mayo
Publication date:  28-11-2019
Response deadline:  20-12-2019 12:00   Irish time
Procedure: 1. Open Procedure (NON OJEU)
Description: The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is Ireland's national sustainable energy authority. SEAI was established by Government under the Sustainable Energy Act 2002 and has a mission to transform Ireland into a society based on sustainable energy structures, technologies and practices. SEAI is inviting proposals from suitably qualified individuals or organisations for the provision of ornithology services at AMETS for the purposes of the installation and operation of an offshore floating wind turbine at the AMETS site. For further information please visit the Request for Tender on www.etenders.gov.ie
Buyer: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland

161162 - 19/050 - Louth County Council PEACE IV - Community Capacity Building Project
Publication date:  28-11-2019
Response deadline:  19-12-2019 12:00   Irish time
Procedure: 1. Open Procedure (NON OJEU)
Description: A targeted project aimed at youth and adult participants, including families of political ex-prisoners who encompass the majority of the target groups within the PEACE IV programme. The proposal will address the capacity of local communities to develop, implement and sustain their own solutions to problems in a way that helps them shape their physical, social, economic and cultural environments. The proposed activity must be meaningful, purposeful and sustained providing opportunities for participants to build and enhance their knowledge and skills, learning from each other and adapting to change.
Buyer: Louth County Council

161048 - MK/PSIBLGM/11/19 - Promotion Services for Irish Beef and Lamb in the German Market
Publication date:  28-11-2019
Response deadline:  23-12-2019 14:00   Irish time
Procedure: Open Procedure (OJEU) post PIN
Description: Invitation to Tender for the Provision of Promotion Services for Irish Beef and Lamb in the German Market
Buyer: Bord Bia (Irish Food Board)

161193 - - The supply of High Quality White Silk Coated Paper.
Publication date:  28-11-2019
Response deadline:  16-12-2019 12:00   Irish time
Procedure: 1. Open Procedure (NON OJEU)
Description: The Office of the Revenue Commissioners requests Tenders for the supply of High Quality White Silk Coated Paper.
Buyer: Office of the Revenue Commissioners

161145 - 21LDRLOU111847 - Enterprising Young Travellers
Publication date:  28-11-2019
Response deadline:  19-12-2019 16:00   Irish time
Procedure: 1. Open Procedure (NON OJEU)
Description: Louth LEADER Partnership (LLP) on behalf of Louth Local Action Group wishes to appoint a facilitator to deliver a Training Programme, Enterprising Young Travellers within County Louth.
Buyer: Louth Leader Partnership

161003 - 2572 - Development and Facilitation of South Dublin Comhairle na nÓg
Publication date:  27-11-2019
Response deadline:  16-12-2019 16:00   Irish time
Procedure: 1. Open Procedure (NON OJEU)
Description: Development and Facilitation of South Dublin Comhairle na nÓg
Buyer: South Dublin County Council

160963 - - Provision of Corporate Website Re-Design, Development, Hosting and Support Services for the PSI
Publication date:  27-11-2019
Response deadline:  07-01-2020 12:00   Irish time
Procedure: Restricted Procedure (OJEU)
Description: The Contracting Authority is inviting applications from suitably qualified service providers to submit their responses to this questionnaire for consideration for the tender stage for the provision of their services to deliver the re-design, development, hosting and support services for a new PSI corporate website. The PSI’s vision is to develop a new website that will enable all users to identify and access the information they need as efficiently as possible. The website should present the PSI as a professional and transparent public organisation that can meet the needs of its different stakeholders with information that is easy to find, easy to understand and accessible on a range of devices. Services sought include the design, development and implementation of the new PSI corporate website, hosting opportunity for the new website, and for the provision of website support and maintenance services. The key deliverables will include: • provision of a comprehensive project plan detailing timelines and project management proposed for delivery of the new website • design, develop, test and implement the new website (fully responsive design) including identification of a suitable CMS (ideally an out of the box CMS solution rather than a proprietary one) to meet the PSI’s requirements, content transfer and user testing • provision of knowledge transfer and training to up to five PSI staff members who will have day-to-day responsibility for updating web content • outline a hosting solution for the new website with appropriate security and data protection arrangements, i.e. ISO27001 (or equivalent) • establishment of a support and maintenance service arrangement Further information is included in the Qualification Questionnaire
Buyer: PSI - the Pharmacy Regulator

161073 - Dairy 2020-22 - Macra Agricultural Skillnet -Delivery of Dairy Farm Business Courses
Publication date:  27-11-2019
Response deadline:  31-12-2019 20:00   Irish time
Procedure: 1. Open Procedure (NON OJEU)
Description: Macra na Feirme Agricultural Skillnet provides part funded training to our members. We are procuring an individual or organisation to deliver the training course according to our Course specifications. We aim to train approx. 180 candidates annually. Then tender is for 2020-2021, with the option to extend for one year; the duration of our Skillnet funding - until the end of 2022 and will apply to any courses delivered in this period. It will be delivered in hotel venues nationwide or an educational venue. Tenders will be assessed on a number of criteria including value for money. knowledge of the dairy industry and current market context, demonstration of ability to develop & deliver training. Companies / Organisations should be in a position, on awarding of a contract to supply Macra na Feirme Agricultural Skillnet with a Tax Clearance Code and a copy of their Insurance. The provider will also be required to enter into a contract with the network to comply with our operating procedures.
Buyer: Macra na Feirme Young Farmer Skillnet

161111 - NUIG/CON1133/2019 - Invitation to Tender for best practice research and consultative strategy and implementation support
Publication date:  27-11-2019
Response deadline:  13-12-2019 12:00   Irish time
Procedure: 1. Open Procedure (NON OJEU)
Description: The Contracting Authority (‘NUI Galway’) proposes to engage in a competitive process for the award of a contract for best practice research and consultative strategy and implementation support. The Contracting Authority (NUI Galway) urgently requires specialist research and consultancy services to support the roll out of a number of critical and highly important initiatives which are scheduled to commence in January 2020 across the campus. The success of these initiatives is contingent on securing best practice higher education research, business intelligence and guidance on or before December 20th, 2019.
Buyer: National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI Galway)

161122 - MK/CSICL/11/19 - A Consumer Study on Irish Cream Liqueur in the US
Publication date:  27-11-2019
Response deadline:  13-12-2019 14:00   Irish time
Procedure: 1. Open Procedure (NON OJEU)
Description: Invitation to Tender for the Provision of A Consumer Study on Irish Cream Liqueur in the US
Buyer: Bord Bia (Irish Food Board)

160816 - - Wastewater Training
Publication date:  27-11-2019
Response deadline:  06-01-2020 12:00   Irish time
Procedure: EPA Open Procedure (NON OJEU)
Description: The EPA is seeking a partner to provide training and consultancy on urban waste water treatment plants and Industrial Emissions /Integrated Pollution Control facilities with waste water treatment plants.
Buyer: Environmental Protection Agency

161092 - Masters Development & Delivery - Macra Agricultural Skillnet seek provider for A Masters programme aimed at building performance in Agri Advisors, Educators and Sales People. (1)
Publication date:  27-11-2019
Response deadline:  24-01-2020 21:00   Irish time
Procedure: 1. Open Procedure (NON OJEU)
Description: Macra Agricultural Skillnet provides part funded training to our members. We are procuring an organisation to develop course content and deliver the training course according to our Course specifications. We aim to train approx. 10 candidates in 2018. Tenders will be assessed on a number of criteria including value for money, demonstration of ability to develop suitable course content, demonstration of ability to deliver training, location / area served, Module Descriptors and Course content, availability of training facilities where applicable and reputation / experience. Organisations should be in a position, on awarding of a contract to supply Macra na Feirme Young Farmer Skillnet with a Tax Clearance Code and a copy of their Insurance. The provider will also be required to enter into a contract with the network to comply with our operating procedures.
Buyer: Macra na Feirme Young Farmer Skillnet
161053 - Pilot Tourism Business Programme - Delivery of Pilot Tourism Business Network Programme
Publication date:  26-11-2019
Response deadline:  16-12-2019 16:00   Irish time
Procedure: 1. Open Procedure (NON OJEU)
Description: Delivery of Pilot Tourism Business Network Programme
Buyer: Monaghan County Council