How my OPAL Dashboard helps businesses

The OPAL system has 4 stages and 12 modules, and can be used by nearly all businesses and many professional men and women to organise their communications. While not necessarily requiring every module immediately, most businesses can work towards the full set. Because I have created my system to provide an overview of communications activities and the context of how they can all fit together, my OPAL Dashboard

• Is an easy-to-use and straightforward dashboard
• Is transparent to all parties
• Helps planning specifications
• Helps long-term consistency
• Brings excellent review, RoI and accountability to programmes

Over the years I have been part of many communications projects. Some have been spectacularly successful and others less so. I created the OPAL Dashboard in 2016, based on my years of real-world experience to help my clients master their communications. My aim is always consistently effective long-term communications. My OPAL Dashboard helps

• Businesses seeking organisation. They are undergoing change: through new staff; new projects; or even generational change.
• Businesses seeking strategies they can do every day. They understand they need consistent long-term communications.

In my early days in business after 2013, I got involved in a number of very tricky client projects. What I soon realised was that all parties, the client and myself as the supplier, as well as 3rd parties, needed to be able to point to some original specifications and discuss them as the project progressed. This is similar to a client and architect looking at the original agreed plans as the house is being built. Without a clear, honest way for all parties to agree the project specifications in advance, the project was doomed to failure for one or more of those involved. At the very least there would be some disappointment and distrust on one or both sides

As a specialist supplier, I cannot assume the client will always remember what the contract covers, especially on a long-term programme. What happens 3 months into the project when the client begins to change personnel (churn), project specifications or budgets (cut), or adds different activities (mission creep)? Churn, cut or creep.

I need to be able to sit and discuss the project in a civilised professional manner and point to what was originally agreed to. As does the client. My answer to this has been to draw on my 30 years of experience in communications project and planning around the world to create ‘The OPAL Dashboard’.

The OPAL Dashboard has been a huge benefit to my business and my clients to get complicated long-term projects up and running successfully, then stabilised, despite personnel and budget changes.