Resetting the relationship between local and national government. Read our Local Government White Paper
Councils, housing services and associations are facing challenges that are adding pressures to the workforce and the services it delivers. Therefore, it is important to create organisational structures that are agile and can address these challenges.
What is Decision-making accountability (DMA)?
The LGA workforce team are experienced in delivering organisation design reviews using the DMA (decision-making accountability) methodology. The DMA approach establishes the number of layers of management that an organisation needs – and the units within it – to achieve its purposes most effectively, and the decision rights that managers in different layers require to be empowered.
It is a proven way of creating an effective organisation and services, through an efficient management structure. The aim of DMA is to create a healthy and effective organisation.
How will this method benefit housing, planning and homelessness services?
The Workforce team has delivered DMA reviews to whole councils or individual directorates for over 10 years. The Workforce team has previously delivered DMA reviews to the housing sector and now, we have tailored the methodology for the sector.
The Housing, Planning and Homelessness DMA methodology holds a mirror up to the organisation and delves deeper into the current organisation structure – what is working and opportunities for development. It also probes how the structure influences factors key to the sector such as data collection, health and safety and engaging residents.
What are the benefits?
Engaging with DMA reviews helps services:
- build organisational structures that are agile and can respond to the challenges the sector face
- lead to timely decision making
- save money
- help employees become more productive, more agile, better at decision making, and more engaged
- in cost terms alone the return on the initial investment will be at least x10
- build roles and structures that can utilise data and engage residents.
Read case studies from our work with councils
DMA in practice
We will work with you in the planning and delivery of the organisational design review. A key component of the DMA review will be analysing the current organisational structure and identifying where a focus may be required. The method includes having engaging conversations with colleagues from the front line moving up the chain of command. This allows us to gain key information that will form part of our wider report and recommendations. We have proven experience of undertaking desktop reviews of organisation structures, or full in-depth reviews both using the DMA methodology.
The LGA will support you throughout the process including accessing comms material that has been proven to engage and support colleagues throughout the review.
What’s next?
The key stages of a typical Housing, Planning and Homelessness organisational design review using DMA typically includes:
- express interest with the LGA
- initial conversation to explore options
- briefing and diagnostics
- conversation-based analysis
- training and toolkit
- report, feedback, and follow-up.
If you would like to explore this further, please contact [email protected]
Additional support
We are also able to support beyond the DMA review, with examples including:
- developing a business case
- job descriptions and person specifications analysis
- job adverts
- reviewing and developing policies.