Rodney Barber
We believe that the way to achieve better outcomes is through better decisions. We care about those who are vulnerable economically, socially and/or culturally and want to be part of the solution to eliminate the system of poverty that keeps them trapped so they can be all they are meant to be.
To this end, we created “Better Decisions. Better Outcomes” , a proven 5-stage method that enables public leaders to engage and think with key stakeholders on how best to deliver better outcomes for better public value.
We define better outcomes as those that result in better living standards for people whether economically, socially, culturally, and/or environmentally.
Over the past 7 years we have had four main successes with this engagement model:
we applied to help the Horowhenua District develop a 20-year strategy.
we applied it in the province of a country in Southeast Asia as a case study for the training of government officials.
we provided it to The Treasury using the Horowhenua District work as a case as an exemplar and provided advice as to how to improve the quality of decision making.
it was endorsed by Taituarā in 2020 to councils who “require additional assistance with their long-term planning processes, especially where they want to “step up” their overall strategic approach”.
In 2020, I was appointed by the International Monetary Fund as an expert and sent on assignment to Southern Africa to help a government develop a better decisions reform programme.
During my time at the Treasury prior to 2016, I established the Better Business Case Framework, based on the 5 Case Model. This gave Cabinet more choice and confidence in capital investment decisions on initiatives. The framework is a systematic way that key stakeholders can be engaged in thinking through the compelling case, best public value option, and whether it is commercially viable, affordable, and deliverable. I had the framework evaluated in 2015 and one of the recommendations was to take a wider sector and country perspective, apply the framework to a broader range of investments, including robust strategy and policy. ie the identification of the right initiatives.
To progress this, I left Treasury in 2016 and founded Barber Associates. I created the Better Decisions. Better Outcomes engagement model, to identify the right initiatives. My team of associates provide a broad range of skills and strong shared values – the top being excellence, humility, and perseverance.
TRUSTED BY
Meet the Associates
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Mark Abbot
Principal at Mark Abbot Consulting Ltd.
Mark specialises in organisational strategy and transformational change. His local government experience comes from senior executive and consultancy roles covering corporate asset management; sector strategy development and implementation; organisational planning and evaluation; and programme management of transformational infrastructure.
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Peter Bonniface
Business Consultant at BRP Consulting
Peter specialises in working with organisations to help them develop investment proposals that are strategically aligned, compelling, and provide value for money. He is a Treasury endorsed Better Business Cases Expert Practitioner and Treasury accredited Gateway reviewer.
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Brett Hodgson
Business Adviser and Director
Brett is an experienced executive having developed his skills through roles held at Board, Country and Regional levels for multi-nationals. Brett has also built his own successful IT services business. Brett specialises in governance, innovation and organisational performance through the development and mobilisation of teams with clear strategy, commonly shared goals and vision.
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Stephen Davies Howard
Director at Davies Howard Group Ltd.
Stephen is recognised as a skilled facilitator accredited to conduct Investment Logic Mapping by the Victoria State Department of Treasury and Finance and he is the only independent (non-government employee) endorsed by the New Zealand Treasury as both an ‘Expert’ practitioner and reviewer for the Better Business Case process.
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Simon Vagn Larsen
Director at Open Service Design Ltd.
Simon co-designs and delivers innovation in many forms, including labs, for private and public sector organisations and assists with improvements in systems, culture, organisational development, and innovative change. Simon’s engagement equips people with the thinking, tools, processes, and the action of human-centered service design.
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Paul Sutton
Senior Trainer & Lead Consultant at Project Results
Paul has been working with a wide range of organisations developing capability through training, coaching, consulting, process improvement and hands-on delivery. He combines an in-depth process knowledge with 30 years of hands-on experience in both business case development and project management. Paul is a Registered Better Business Cases (BBC), PRINCE2®, PRINCE2 Agile® and MSP® trainer.
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Lewis Weatherall
Director at Business Case Consulting Ltd.
Lewis specializes in assisting clients to develop high quality business cases using the Better Business Cases (BBC) approach. Lewis is a Treasury-endorsed Expert Practitioner and Reviewer, an APMG International approved trainer and an Investment Management Standard (ILM) facilitator.