Should the Housing sector embrace Change

As Housing professionals we have a question to consider. Based on the way we are funded and the fact most Housing Associations are not for profit organisations,

Do we have a greater obligation to be cost effective then a Corporate organisation?

The surplus created by a Housing Association is fed back into Providing Homes, Building Communities and helping people and families, However, the Profit made by a Corporate company general ends up with the shareholders.

The concept of Lean/Six sigma has been tainted within the housing sector, this has happened for many reasons, In some cases the word lean is not to be used.

The Methodology is sound, however the application is the problem. If you engage with a consultancy and all you get is a report telling what you need to do to be great, then it becomes an expensive report.

Following the lean leaders and applying a similar approach is going to elevate your potential. In many cases the Housing sector will not apply a manufacturing approach, why? Because most struggle to see the link.

You need to think about it in its basic form. We have material or Information enter the process, we carryout tasks in the organisation to transform the material or information into either a product or a service. In both cases the more efficient we are, allows us to thrive and survive.