Case Studies

The following case studies represent examples of recent projects successfully undertaken by MBAssociates:

Age Concern

Age Concern Scotland has developed an IT infrastructure which met the needs of the organisation a number of years ago. The requirements of users have developed and now depend on a high degree of flexibility and responsiveness. The systems have grown to meet the changing needs of the organisation but now operate with a degree of inflexibility which often restricts what can be achieved.

MBAssociates were asked to undertake a review of the organisation's IT systems and recommend solutions which will enable its technology infrastructure to work more effectively for the benefit of all staff.

Dave McDougall carried out extensive background research, interviewing key staff, identifying the needs of users and making an assessment of the effectiveness of current systems and support arrangements. Levels of training, systems management, commercial and communication requirements were looked at and a strategy was proposed to effectively and efficiently manage the organisation's IT systems utilising central storage of information and external hosting of servers.

Napier University

Napier University has positioned itself as the dominant wider access institution in the East of Scotland and beyond. It prides itself on providing practical and relevant courses of study, making Napier students valued by prospective employers. As part of the development programme it has built a state of the art Business School at its Craiglockhart campus, carried out a brand identity exercise and introduced e-learning as a means of attracting a wider pool of student applications from home and overseas.

MBAssociates have been involved in a number of projects associated with these initiatives including:

Brand Story Database

As part of Napier's brand development exercise, MBAssociates was asked to create a Brand Story Database. The database was designed to help staff explain Napier's brand values when promoting their Schools and courses and formed part of the brand guidelines for staff use. Fiona McDougall interviewed key employees, collecting stories relating to all the elements of the Napier brand from throughout the University and developed a user friendly database to store them.

Competitor analysis of New Business School

In order to help Napier University differentiate its new business school from other business course providers, MBAssociates was asked to undertake an analysis of the current market for higher business education. Schools in Scotland, UK and US were studied based on specific categories. This benchmarking exercise against best practice business institutions throughout the world enabled Napier to understand it's strengths as well as the opportunities still open to them.

Soilutions

Soil Hospital Ltd has developed processes which allow contaminated soil to be treated in the most appropriate manner so that it can be used again productively. The company recycles unusable soil and processes it for productive use.

This environmentally desirable service is being made available within Scotland for work with local authorities and developers to provide a service which is currently in high demand.

Recent years have seen a massive rise in the demand for land for development, along with the application of stricter controls in the treatment of contaminated land. There is real need for the provision of consistent and reliable services in the recycling of soil, not only to avoid waste, but also to increase the resources for productive use.

MBAssociates were asked to develop a business plan to show how the Soil Hospital can be set up and a business model implemented which will meet the needs of the market and provide excellent returns for investors in the company. The plan will form a record of the company's objectives and proposed operations as well as a tool to attract funding.

Dave McDougall worked with the company to understand the reason for its development, the market in which it operates and the business proposition. Marketing and sales strategies were proposed and operational and financial requirements outlined. An action plan of key activities for the future was then agreed.

Scottish Water

The Business Solutions team was established to provide environmental and water and waste water management services for Scottish Water's key customers on a commercial basis. The team works closely with some of the largest businesses in Scotland as well as single site SMEs.

The brief was to help them develop a marketing strategy directed at its target markets and devise campaigns to help them reach these markets.

Fiona McDougall worked with the Business Solutions team over a period of two to three months, utilising a series of workshops, to help them understand their markets, refine their product offering, define their product positioning, set pricing and develop promotional campaigns directed at targeted productive customer groups. She also helped them implement many of the communications activities recommended.

Testimonial: Fiona helped our Business Solutions team to develop an effective marketing programme directed at our key customers. Her input helped the team focus on their strengths and make structured, practical plans to enable them to deliver their services profitably in a competitive marketplace. Mark McEwen (formerly General Manager – Business Development, Scottish Water).