ENGAGEMENT
The Security organization of a large financial institution was struggling to stay up-to-date with key program activities and desired support tracking its day-to-day operations, developing metrics and improving budget and reporting. DayBlink Consulting served as Chief of Staff to the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Chief Legal Officer (CLO), ensuring that the executive team remained informed and on track with crucial programs, including developing presentations for the Board of Directors.
PROBLEM
The client identified a need for robust strategic program management of core initiatives as some activities were getting lost amid a hectic schedule and insufficient resourcing. The CISO and CLO lacked day-to-day support for managing the core initiatives and programs in their portfolios. Reporting resources were overwhelmed with service commitments to the organization, leaving them unable to effectively manage executive-level needs. Specific domains that included budget and spend management, metrics, strategy, board reporting, project overviews and roadmaps, were neglected and required immediate attention.
SOLUTION
DayBlink Consulting supported the leadership team by providing expertise and support to a variety of strategic programs and initiatives. Our team managed the budget for key tools, projects, and resources, identifying cost-saving opportunities and ensuring efficient allocation of funds. We designed, automated, and visualized key performance indicators (KPIs) and measures to provide clear insights into organizational performance. We engaged stakeholders, conducted market research, and performed horizon scanning to align the organization’s strategy with industry trends and future challenges. The client then asked for assistance developing and maintaining project plans and roadmaps to ensure on-time delivery of expected outputs and alignment with organizational goals. Stakeholder input and service design principles enabled restructuring of the security organization, enhancing its effectiveness and efficiency. Finally, we developed comprehensive quarterly board reports, gathering and presenting data to provide clear and informative updates to executives.
RESULT
DayBlink Consulting’s involvement over the course of a year significantly improved the management and execution of the security organization’s initiatives. The team implemented a well-structured and organized board reporting approach and template, consistently providing information to executives in an easy-to-understand format. This presentation methodology was adopted outside of security by other teams and organizations. Additionally, the team successfully redesigned and implemented the new security organization, presenting the outcomes to key stakeholders and gaining their approval. The updated budget management and tracking tool enabled the security organization to oversee spending across personnel, projects, and technology more effectively – and supported positive ROI budgetary changes, including a variety of cost savings opportunities, the following year. Clearer and automated KPIs, offered clearer insights into organizational performance and supported data-driven decision-making. The project planning and roadmapping efforts dramatically increased on time performance enabling 30% fewer resources to focus on that set of tasks.