The Cost Architecture is esd-toolkits Activity Based Costing (ABC) method for local authorities and partner organisations. If you are a subscribing authority please use the links to the left to access a range of free downloadable products and reference materials including the Service Cost Calculator, a manual, examples of other authorities calculations and various publications.
The Cost Architecture may be used to:
There is also a link to the our 'Generic Process List' which defines everything an authority does in 50 or so high level process definitions, this is built into the Service Cost Calculator but may also be used independently as an aid to gathering organisational insight for service redesign purposes.
We are now offering 1 day starter workshops in Councils own premises (or a dedicated training venue at extra cost). The Training sessions will equip you to go out and use the ABC Method and understand more about how to apply the Generic Process Process list.
The ‘practitioners’ training' will take you through the background and application of the approach including establishing a project team and executing a project, good practice examples from other Local authority projects, benefits realisations and some of the potential pitfalls. A case study will be used to identify how the Cost Architecture can be used alongside other improvement tools such as process mapping and service metrics. More importantly you will spend time using the cost architecture to change from the ‘before’ picture to the ‘after’ picture.
Who will benefit?
Anyone involved in business improvement programmes and project teams and any practitioners who need to target areas for improvement and evidence the potential for efficiencies in their business cases.
Please take a look at the Course Outline.
Following on from the success of Phases I & II, we are now running Phase III of the Cost Architecture Project called 'ABC Choices'.
'ABC Choices' is designed so that groups of authorities within a partnership or region can share experiences or collaborate in running Cost Architecture Projects.
We already have a range of 'free' downloadable Cost Architecture products but 'ABC Choice' can give you a kick start, give you the reassurance that you are planning and executing your projects in the right way and save you time.
By being a Phase III project member you will also be able to meet with authorities at dedicated Cost Architecture workshops, these authorities will be facing similar challenges and it will provide an opportunity to share insights and good practice. Workshop sessions and ABC support will be provided by our Business Improvement Lead Facilitator - Peter Wrigley has worked with authorities to develop and refine the approach in a range of situations.
By being a Project member you will be given access to the other 'ABC Choices' services from the wider esd-toolkit team of facilitators and esd-toolkit approved suppliers where appropriate. These services are not being made available to the other esd-toolkit subscribers.
Please download the ABC Choices leaflet to learn more.
If you and would like more information on either the Practitioner Training or ABC Choices then please contact Peter Wrigley (e-mail: peter.wrigley@esd.org.uk or telephone - 07920 596969). Also please do feel free to pass this on to others who you think may be interested.