Changing the Model

Effective Cost Modeling Tool

UCS Co-op — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:52:21 +0000

Since developing the Financial Modeling Tool (FMT) and Process for groups considering a bid in the new Employment Program of BC, UCS Co-op has built a second tool to assess costs in the contractual relationship between potential lead contractors and subcontractors. Unlike the original FMT, the Effective Cost Modeling Tool (ECMT) for Lead Contractors and Subcontractors does not require an extensive data gathering and refining process, but can be used to clarify contractual details between two potential partners. The ECMT is free for UCS Co-op members and can be purchased by non-members at a price of $249 + HST and includes a 30 minute webinar for you to learn about its features and ask questions.

For more information, contact Barbora Farkasova at barborafarkasova@ucscoop.com or call (604) 718-8292.

Presentation at January ASPECT conference

UCS Co-op — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 03:27:54 +0000

The UCS Co-op presented the Financial Modeling Tool at ASPECT’s January conference, underSTAND and DELIVER

Click here to view the PowerPoint presentation: Employment Program Presentation

Below is the presentation delivered at the ASPECT conference, in three parts:

Threat, Challenge or Opportunity

UCS Co-op — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:48:20 +0000

The dramatic change process underway in employment services in BC provides an incredible opportunity for non-profit organizations to show true mission and passion, to express a vision of community ownership and overcome the instinctual need to compete. The non-profit sector has some strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in this regard. Let’s have a look.

Threats: that some big foreign company will move in and take the whole thing; that the fear of change will stampede folks into quick self-protective alliances; that colleagues and friends will do the really stupid thing and begin competing with each other.

Opportunities: to mobilize communities for community benefit; to keep the basics at the front – quality client services, community change strategies; to invent and invest in new responsive and co-operative vehicles.

Weaknesses: lack of regard for and commitment to intellectual, social and economic capital; a focus on counting staff numbers as a proxy for winning; risk aversive organizational strategies such as focusing on admin fees and ignoring long-term profitability.

Strengths: the great program staff people who care and constantly innovate; the community support, volunteers and leaders who really believe in community wealth; the powerful tradition of serving communities through thick and thin rather than hit and run.

The ability to scale up: to build on the community-base advantage, the non-profit advantage, and the co-op advantage. That is the incredible opportunity. Don’t you think so?

Tim Beachy, UCS Co-op

ASPECT Partnership Summit in September

UCS Co-op — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:52:08 +0000

The Association of Service Providers for Employability and Career Training (ASPECT) is convening a 2-day Partnership Summit, September 13th and 14th in Richmond, BC. This 2-day workshop will be facilitated by Duncan Holmes and will provide an opportunity for community stakeholders planning to deliver services in the “New Employment Model” to come together.

To read more about the Summit and to register click here or visit their website.

Welcome

UCS Co-op — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:20:47 +0000

Welcome to this blog. We struggled with the name, playing with words like ESCapade, ESCaper and ESChange, but settled on “changingthemodel” because it brings a certain richness of interpretation and is pretty easy to recall.

This blog site is intended for those non-profits that are captured in the process of changing the Employment Services programs of BC. We are responding to members of the UCS Co-op and other non-profit organizations that have made requests for assistance.

We hope you and others will share your thoughts and beliefs, your struggles and insights as this process moves along.

We will add a few other resources as we go along but the main intention is that you will be a resource to others and they to you. Your contributions will be helpful to others who find this process daunting, gruelling and fulfilling. Please add your own thoughts by starting a new “posting” and by commenting on blog entries of other people.

Best wishes,

Tim Beachy, CEO, United Community Services Co-op