The Shared Service Architect's Toolbox

The 40 tools in this toolbox are based on many years of field work, an 18 month academic study at Canterbury Christ Church Business School, 10 shared service workshops and the distilled evidence from almost 100 documents referred to in the knowledge bank of this book.

The tools support the shared vision route map on the A4 laminate accompanying this book.

The undeniable truth about trust and shared vision

Strong trust and absolute clarity of shared vision are the two keystones to the success of all shared service activities. The academic research, case studies, government reports and practitioner experience distilled into the 40 tools agree an undeniable truth.

That, a lack of strong trust and clear shared vision will cause a shared service project to crumble or fail on its journey, no matter how much money is available or how good the project team may be.

Quick to read and quick to create

The 40 tools, each described clearly in its own four page layout, are designed so that what you read in the morning you could be applying in the afternoon.

Pages 1 & 2 of each tool explain the background to why each tool is important.

Key documents are referenced in footnotes1 for each tool. This enables you to explain to colleagues why you have chosen the tool and the evidence for its need.

On page 2 are recommendations on how to use the tool in a step by step format.

It also suggests any materials that you should have to hand. For example post-it notes or flip-charts.

Page 3 provides an example layout for the tool so that you can develop and adapt it for your specific purpose.

All of the tools have been designed so that they can be replicated rapidly in MSWord, MSPublisher or PowerPoint.

Page 4 is a user log for you to keep a record of when you used the tool, the outcomes and any adaptations you would make when using the tool again.

Do you have to use the tools in the order in the book?

Like any toolbox, you only need to pick out the right tool for the right job. Therefore you do not need to systematically go through each tool to be successful. The key benefit of this book is that it provides you with a wide choice of tools to solve the problems that you encounter.
As Abraham Maslow, the famous psychologist said, if the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem you have to solve, looks like a nail.

Click here to download the introduction and contents page

Product Code: SSATV