Helping boards and leadership teams make clearer strategic, investment and portfolio decisions.
Most organisations already have strategies, plans, business-case processes and reporting systems.
The challenge is whether enough thinking has occurred before significant money, time and organisational capability are committed.
Better Decisions. Better Outcomes. (BDBO) helps leaders clarify the outcomes they seek, understand the situation, examine choices, make trade-offs and determine what should be prioritised.
Strengthening the Think Stage
BDBO works within the decision-making lifecycle: Think → Plan → Do → Review
My primary contribution is to strengthen the Think stage.
I help boards, executives and leadership teams:
clarify intended outcomes
understand needs, problems and opportunities
examine evidence and assumptions
involve the people with relevant knowledge and experience
explore strategic choices
make trade-offs visible
prioritise a coherent and achievable portfolio
connect strategy, investment, delivery and accountability
BDBO does not replace existing governance, planning or business-case processes. It helps those processes begin with clearer thinking and better decisions.
When BDBO Can Help
BDBO can help when your organisation is:
reviewing its strategy or direction
facing competing priorities
deciding where limited resources should be invested
developing or reassessing a portfolio of initiatives
preparing for a major programme, project or business case
working across organisational or sector boundaries
navigating complexity or uncertainty
seeking stronger alignment between governance, strategy and delivery
strengthening accountability for financial and public value
The work can focus on one significant decision, a portfolio of initiatives or the organisation’s wider decision-making system.
Ways We Could Work Together
Decision Discovery
A focused conversation to clarify the decision, challenge or opportunity and identify where stronger thinking could add value.
Focused Application
A workshop, diagnostic or short engagement applying BDBO to a real strategic, portfolio or investment decision.
Portfolio Development and Prioritisation
Support to identify, assess and prioritise a coherent portfolio before detailed planning and business-case development begin.
Decision-Making Capability
Support for boards and leadership teams to strengthen how governance, strategy, investment, delivery and accountability work together.
The approach is adapted to the significance of the decision, the organisation’s existing capability and the people who need to participate.
What Your Organisation Can Gain
BDBO can contribute to:
clearer outcomes and priorities
better-informed decisions
more transparent choices and trade-offs
stronger alignment between boards, leaders and delivery teams
a more coherent and achievable portfolio
better use of limited resources
greater confidence before detailed planning begins
stronger accountability for outcomes and public value
improved internal decision-making capability
The goal is not simply another report or plan. It is better thinking that leads to better decisions and better outcomes.
Experience You Can Trust
I bring more than 30 years of experience in public value, governance, strategy, investment and organisational decision-making, including:
the New Zealand Treasury and Office of the Auditor-General
leading the development and implementation of Better Business Cases in New Zealand
international public investment management work with the International Monetary Fund
organisational strategy, investment and business-case assignments
governance, leadership coaching and capability development
I work alongside boards and leadership teams as a trusted adviser, facilitator and decision-making coach.
Where additional expertise or capacity is required, trusted associates and collaborative partners can be brought together around the assignment.
What Decision Is Your Organisation Working Through?
Your organisation may be reviewing its strategy, determining priorities, considering a significant investment or trying to turn complex ambitions into an achievable portfolio.
A conversation is a practical place to begin.
Together, we can clarify what you are seeking to achieve, where the decision-making challenge lies and whether BDBO could help.
