CDS helps corporate clients define the most appropriate role and scope for their Corporate Center and, by using various analytical tools, identify the candidate functions / activities that could be centralized (shared) at the corporate center.. For each function / activity, CDS conducts additional analyses covering all relevant parameters, thus allowing to define the optimal extent of centralization (i.e. to fully centralize vs. centralize – delocalize vs. fully decentralize). Accordingly, the interactions between the Corporate Center and the operating companies/ business units and among the latter entities are clearly defined.

Typically, this also covers the identification of relevant key performance indicators (KPIs) and the establishment of service level agreements (SLAs), supported by an authority limits matrix (ALM).

Numerous benefits can result from the establishment of a corporate center:

• Cost savings from economies of scale and the elimination of redundant work and infrastructure.

• Higher quality and uniformity of service levels across the organization.

• Higher productivity of resources delivering services.

• Increased standardization, making reengineering initiatives easier to implement while promoting ongoing improvement.

• Increased focus by the operating companies/ business units on their core activities and areas of competence, letting a shared services central unit deal with non-core activities.

• Clear distribution of authorities between the corporate center and the operating companies/ business units.

• Clear expectations and accountabilities for all parties.

CDS designs organizational models that best serve a company’s operations while optimizing its client experience and its cost structure.

Depending on the functional scope of the client organization, its portfolio of products & services, the market segments it serves, and its geographical reach, CDS makes recommendations regarding the most appropriate type of organization structure (by function, by product line, by market segment, by region, or a mix of them).

Accordingly, CDS details the client’s organization structure and develop the corresponding titles, reporting lines, and job descriptions, including job purpose, roles, responsibilities, accountabilities and required skills, experience, and qualifications.

A well designed organization is important to ensure that the structure is at the service of the company’s operations, that roles & responsibilities are optimally allocated, and that accountabilities are reinforced.

CDS has developed a unique and extensive experience in designing optimized and implementable operating systems for clients’ core and support functions.

Operating systems are developed based on CDS proprietary approach which involves the concerned internal stakeholders and as needed the relevant external stakeholders, and uses various inputs, including the company strategy and objectives, existing process maturity, the requirements of process clients, internal and external best practices, as well as the organization's IT & people constraints and capabilities.

Operating systems include, as applicable: principles, business policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs) generally presented in flow charts, standard forms, key performance indicators (KPIs) service level agreements (SLAs), authority distribution, as well as automation and implementation requirements.

The many benefits of optimizing operations include:

• Maximizing effectiveness and efficiency across the organization.

• Ensuring consistency across the organization and over time.

• Enhancing controls and risk management.

• Maximizing the client experience.

• Optimizing process costs and resource utilization.

CDS works with its clients to set up a cost optimization roadmap that captures all cost optimization opportunities and details the tasks and actions required to exploit them.

The roadmap is devised based on a thorough assessment of the general cost structure covering the company’s financial situation and value chain, as well as the detailed analysis of cost drivers and the identification and prioritization of cost optimization opportunities spanning from tactical to high-level strategic initiatives. This can result in enhanced profitability, optimized resource allocation, more informed decision-making driven by data and analytics, and enhanced competitiveness.

Based on a detailed identification of all financial and non-financial performance indicators (at the level of strategy, operations, organization, etc.), CDS assists clients in defining the management dashboards for each level and part of the organization. At the most detailed level, this includes a comprehensive list of KPIs, as well as their respective targets, based on which the organization performance can be assessed and benchmarked.

CDS also works with its clients to define the dashboard production and distribution rules & guidelines. .

The main benefits of management dashboards include:

• The availability of a complete set of key information regarding the organization’s performance.

• The ability to benchmark with best practices and identify performance enhancement opportunities.

• Factual assessment during performance appraisals.

• More generally, informed decision making

CDS assists its clients in developing detailed authority limits for all functions and processes.

A well-defined Authority Limits Matrix:

• Reinforces accountability within the organization.

• Ensures more efficient and better decision making.

• Benefits from the knowledge of specialized people at the organization.

• Can potentially minimize the workload on managers.

• Can potentially boost motivation and moral of subordinates as well as their sense of responsibility.