What is Byte the Bullet?

What is business transformation?
What is the Byte the Bullet Programme all about?
What’s involved?
How do I get a place on the programme?
Who’s in the Byte the Bullet team?
What if I’m not successful in getting a place on Byte the Bullet?


What is business transformation?

Business transformation can be defined as the implementation of new and existing technologies and process improvements in a strategic, planned and sustainable manner, resulting in increased competitiveness and productivity.
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What is the Byte the Bullet Programme all about?

Byte the Bullet is a three year (plus one)* business transformation programme which adopts a ‘business first, technology second’ approach. The objective of the programme is to ensure that ICT or e-business initiatives are fully aligned with, and supportive of, the core business objectives and strategy of the participating Small to Medium-sized Enterprise (SME). It’s not about a new or improved website. It is about taking a holistic approach to embed strategic and operational planning, process change and new and existing technologies into a business. It is designed to improve productivity, efficiency, and competitive advantage of SMEs, with an emphasis on delivering measurable return on investment from technology implementations. Some of the real business benefits of adopting this approach through the programme are: lower costs, increased sales, enhanced partner relationships, increased customer satisfaction and sustained, planned growth and profitability.

*  Business transformation takes time - typically one or more planning cycles elapse before benefits are realised. Therefore an additional year has been built into the programme to allow flexibility for companies progressing through the programme at different rates and to allow backend loading of SMEs if required.
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What’s involved?

Business transformation takes time; it’s not a quick fix. It needs to be driven from inside an organisation, otherwise it doesn’t work. Byte the Bullet isn’t about doing it for you; it’s about supporting and mentoring companies to change their business for the better. The companies who successfully gain a place on the programme will require strong leadership and the active support of all staff. Managerial and financial commitment will be required.

Once on the programme, participating companies will be matched with an experienced consultant. The consultant will have the capability to help seek out inefficiencies and vulnerabilities within the business. They will have the ability to understand what the business does best and evaluate the structure of the business process by process. They will help develop an action plan for change and then work with you step by step to implement that action plan. Consultants will support all the stages of the business transformation life cycle including:

• Business process review and evaluation
• Strategy development and prioritisation including financial objectives – revenue, costs, profits
  Implementation
• Transformation enablers: people, technology, management, organisation and culture
• Performance measurement, including return on investment

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How do I get a place on the programme?

There are only 20 places on the programme, so competition for a place will be fierce. The first thing you need to do is to declare an interest in the programme by completing the application form. As well as the online form, which you may wish to print off before submitting, there is also the option of downloading a PDF or Word version of the form to complete and send as an email attachment. See the right hand links on the application form page.

You can also attend an information seminar. The seminar will lay out the objectives and expectations of the programme. This is to ensure that applicants understand what the programme will expect of them, and what applicants can expect from the programme. If Byte the Bullet is for you, complete an application form if you haven't already done so. Applicants unable to attend a seminar  will have their interest followed up with a phone call to discuss the programme in detail.

Once the programme of seminars is completed by the end of November, our team of consultants will begin selecting the companies to be offered a place on the programme. You may be asked to give a presentation on how your company will benefit from a place on Byte the Bullet. It is hoped to begin working with the 20 successful companies in January 2008.
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What will happen once I’ve secured a place on the programme?

As mentioned, participating companies will be matched with a consultant to work hand in glove with over the lifetime of their business transformation. To ensure business transformation goals are achieved, key milestones and deliverables will be agreed for each phase of the programme. You will be asked to sign up to a ‘charter document’ agreed in consultation with you, explaining clearly your expectations from the programme and our expectation of you.

Independent gateway reviews will also be conducted at key stages. This will ensure satisfactory progress is being made at each stage of the business transformation life cycle. In most cases, this will involve a simple monitoring and evaluation of project documentation leading to a decision to proceed to the next phase. These reviews will be conducted by an independent expert and will provide a safety net for both clients and HIE to ensure the success of the overall programme and avoid project drift.
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Who’s in the Byte the Bullet team?

Steering Group:  Representatives from HIE and their local offices and Dr Jim Hamill.

• responsible for monitoring the overall performance of the programme against agreed KPIs

Programme Manager:  Dr. Jim Hamill – Strathclyde University

• responsible for monitoring the overall performance of the programme against agreed KPIs
• input into company selection
• gateway reviewer
• plan, manage and deliver training programme to consultants and clients

Project Managers:   David Sim, Strategic Integration; Eric Cordiner, Pinnacle Business Solutions

• manage client projects, consultants and key experts
• report to programme manager and steering group

Consultants:   Alaistar Nicolson, Dr. Steven Heddle, Alan Stevenson, Brian Wilson, Dave Whittaker, Brian Firth

• responsible for establishing a strong ‘1-2-1’ relationship with allocated client for the full duration of the project
• responsibilities include: business review and evaluation; strategy development; action plan, implementation; performance measurement, reporting

Key Experts:   Drawn from Development Partners or elsewhere

• pool of ICT/business transformation consultants expert in specific areas i.e. CRM, integration etc.
• not directly involved in the programme but can be drawn on when specific areas of expertise are required

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What if I’m not successful in getting a place on Byte the Bullet?

It is inevitable that some companies will be unable to remain on the Byte the Bullet programme for its duration. In order to fill any vacancies that occur, it is planned to operate a ‘substitutes’ bench’. Those companies placed on stand by will be informed.

However, the subs’ bench will be time limited (probably by end of 2008) to ensure there is enough time left in the programme lifespan to ensure maximum benefit for participants. During the interim, substitute companies will be signposted to their HIE local office to assess what other forms of advice/consultancy that can usefully move the business forward. This may be either face to face, or through our online resource centre on the HIE website which is currently being developed.

If it is felt Byte the Bullet isn’t right for a company, they will be asked to explore other forms of help and support with their HIE local office.

We will also be implementing a programme of workshops and seminars during 2008 on a number of topics relating to strategy, technology and business process improvements and we will add you to the mailing list for these if you wish.
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