Early in the project, it was clear that a bespoke approach would be needed, due to the unique nature of Channel 4’s statutory remit. The obligations the remit places on Channel 4 are key determinants of the company’s future strategy and decisions, so it was important to integrate reporting with the usual management information that the board would expect to receive on the organization's performance.
Our first challenge was ensuring that the board had the information it needed to assess whether Channel 4 was meeting its remit. We worked closely with the board, management, and secretariat, looking at the relevant legislation and guidance produced by the regulator (OFCOM). We then developed metrics that could be used for forward planning and for showing that the remit was being met.
Once these metrics and indicators had been established, we used them as the basis for a dashboard summarizing key data from across the strategic, operational, and financial reports. This was designed to help the board determine which areas to focus on in their discussion and to provide a high-level snapshot of the organization’s overall health. We also developed a new reporting template called the ‘Creative Report’, providing the board with insight into the creative performance and planning.
Finally, to ensure that the new reporting framework was effectively implemented, we provided training for regular report writers across the organization.
