How We Think

Having been and worked with Government Procurement Officers (GPOs) who leave their procurements to the very last minute, I understand the stress that comes with the end-of-financial-year and as Christmas shutdown approaches. Having lived through 5+ complex procurements that all had to be completed in 2-month periods (and less), I’ve also made my fair share of EOFY and New Year’s resolutions that start with the words “… Never again…” But then “never happens” again. And again. And not completing procurements on time can lead to very serious financial and legal implications for GPOs and the organisations they represent. As a ‘survivor,’ I can offer some simple strategies that can potentially go a long way to making “never again” a reality.

In the realm of business operations, sustainability has become a buzzword that is often associated with environmental initiatives and corporate responsibility. While reducing waste, conserving resources, and reducing carbon footprints are undeniably crucial aspects of sustainability, there is one underrated area where this ethos can truly shine – contract management.

When applying the law, uncertainty is the last thing you want. If your task is the application of complex rules to unique circumstances and you’re looking for as much assistance as you can to do that, you don’t want to be met with a shrug. It’s no different when it comes to Freedom of Information (FOI) – so it should be a welcome relief that when you search through the FOI Guidelines, you’ll see the word ‘uncertain’ rarely appears in the FOI Guidelines – and one instance concerns the ‘Materials-obtained-in-confidence’ exemption under the FOI Act

In the dynamic realm of project management, success can hinge on the intricate interplay between the individuals on a project team. Projects are propelled to fruition through an effective fusion of personalities, skills, and attitudes, enabling teams to navigate ambiguity and complexity to achieve quality outcomes. At Synergy Group, we fine tune our teams to meet the specific requirements of our clients, to ensure project success.

We can identify exponential technology as technologies that double, or deliver an exponential increase, in performance or speed each year. In the past few years, we have seen many emerging technologies (some of which also fit into the category of exponential technology) make strides in the corporate world in an effort to improve business performance, customer service and more. But what happens when a group of these exponential technologies come together?

There is no shortage of opportunities for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). Still, we need to stop thinking of them only as tools for automation, operational uplifts and efficiency gain. There are opportunities that extend beyond the day-to-day, explore new ground, and open up areas that are not obvious, yet deliver significant value and benefit. These opportunities can be found in almost every industry, and by way of example, there have been exciting advances in AI and ML supporting mental health in the military.