Transport Consulting

Delivering complex change that impacts infrastructure and people whilst maintaining operational integrity is a challenge all transport providers face.

The combination of aged assets, budget constraints, a multi-faceted supply chain and overstretched internal capability hinders strategic thinking and creates a culture based on “crisis management as the norm”.

The Transport Authorities face their own challenges in regulating a sector with variations of devolved power and competing objectives between Operating Companies and Infrastructure Operators. The task of developing schemes future proofed to ensure that they are still relevant 10 – 20 years later, upon actual implementation, is not easy either.

Common sources of change in Transport are: regulatory reforms, strategic infrastructure programmes, tactical approaches to address capacity constraints, and organisational changes such as Franchise renewals. External Agencies and the travelling public are all scrutinising every move made by Transport Providers.

The environment in which change is being delivered is presents its own challenges.

Right business sponsorship

Change Initiatives that are aligned with Organisational Strategy and as such fully endorsed by an informed and engaged Executive typically bring success. It is important to identify strong senior Sponsorship to advocate the change and make it happen. With a focus on short and medium terms goals, due to operational pressures, finding the right availability and energy to focus on long term goals can be challenging for Sponsors.

Right requirements

The pressures of keeping passengers moving can often result in a prioritisation of short term goals. The early stages are the most critical in delivering change although they can often appear least urgent and this can be reflected in time and resource allocation. Laying strong foundations can benefit Sponsors where operational pressures can result in a returning focus to short and medium term goals.

Right capability

Investment in key skills for managing change often takes lower priority than developing operational skills. Franchising can compound these issues due to the prioritisation of near term goals over medium to long term benefit. Internal Change and Programme Management teams are often over stretched in terms of capability and capacity. This creates a reliance on finding the right external providers and establishing commercial relationships to drive the right behaviours. A short term focus can lead to under investment in supplier relationships that deliver the required capability and the right behaviours.