Relevant themes from our portfolio.

The region serves as a focal point for many challenges. Whether it’s strengthening the regional economy, developing a vision for the (living) environment, or addressing social issues, our experts have supported various regions in shaping their own narrative and value proposition. Using the ‘regional strategy canvas,’ we make clear which elements are crucial for the region and what is needed to further enhance it. Through scenario planning, we provide the right tools to move beyond discussions about data. We analyse trends, develop potential future scenarios, and use them to assess the robustness of choices. We have a keen understanding of the dynamics of triple-helix collaboration. Our experience and models are often applied in Urbanization Studies, investment agendas, Regional Deals, or action plans.

Cities face several significant challenges. In most places in the Netherlands, there is a demand to add housing while simultaneously preserving space for other (social) functions. Additionally, we often see the physical and social domains moving alongside each other as separate worlds. With broad prosperity as a starting point, we ensure that a conversation emerges about the future. We encourage participants to break free from the present and focus on the future. Our experts have extensive experience in providing support to develop strategies, both across domains and for specific challenges.

The Dutch housing market is out of balance. There is a shortage of social rental housing, and in the ownership sector, starters struggle to find suitable homes. Moreover, numerous challenges come into play. Housing should facilitate both inflow and circulation, while also accommodating issues such as housing for refugees. Ideally, we program housing construction to create strong neighborhoods with a good mix of adaptable owned and rented homes. This is not easy, especially when considering additional themes like sustainability. Jester Strategy supports housing associations, construction companies, and municipalities with advice and action. For municipal housing visions, we create qualitative and quantitative residential scenarios, and for associations, we develop business plans, while providing construction companies with fitting strategies.

Welfare organisations are often traditionally structured and operate based on a defined mandate from the municipality. However, the market is changing. Competition in municipal tenders requires welfare organisations to be sharp in their strategy. With our experience, we ensure that we look beyond existing frameworks for opportunities. We connect the strength of the welfare organisation to the challenges of the municipal client.

Long-term care in the Netherlands faces numerous challenges, with the most significant being the increasing scarcity in the labor market—a chronic shortage of hands-on care. Executives contemplate the involvement of informal caregivers and the utilisation of new technology. While there is significant potential in this regard, these advancements require a cultural shift. There needs to be a transition from ‘providing care’ to ‘ensuring care.’ Efficiency becomes more critical, but always without compromising on compassionate respect for patients and residents. Jester Strategy has extensive experience in long-term care, including care for the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and mental health care. Our clients include care institutions, industry associations such as Actiz, and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. Themes we address include strategy, business plans, as well as implementation projects using OGSM. Steering and learning are high priorities for many organisations in the healthcare sector.

In the Netherlands almost everyone has a roof over their head, and we have a well-established welfare system. However, that is not enough. Everyone understands that participating in society is crucial for one’s self-worth, engagement, and social cohesion. Fortunately, many organisations are dedicated to providing meaningful and suitable workplaces for special individuals. Our team regularly collaborates to guide social entrepreneurs through future challenges. This involves issues such as financing, new business models, innovation, and collaboration. Recently, we have worked with sheltered workshops, thrift stores, and other social enterprises, aiming to make strategic decisions for the benefit of employees.

We are strategists at heart and have guided organisations in all sectors, both profit and non-profit, in crafting their strategies. In doing so, we always consider role consistency and pay attention to governance, including executives, supervisors, and representative bodies. It’s an important and current topic. Jester Strategy actively contributes to governance and strategy by teaching in the Governance Essentials program at NCD. We also publish on the subject, as seen in our book ‘Strategic Control.’ Whether you want to discuss strategy and internal oversight or arrange a presentation, we are eager to brainstorm with you.

Most often, we work for individual organisations, but industry associations also turn to us. Associations operate in a unique dynamic, advocating for the collective interests while providing guidance for their base of entrepreneurs or professionals for their organisation or field. Jester Strategy has extensive experience conducting scenario studies for associations. An exploration of the future of a sector or industry enables the association to set its course, providing members with innovative options for the future of their own organisations. This establishes direction for the collective and space for individual members. We have created impressive products, including reports, online tools, games, and videos.

Exceptional talent is not only rare but also requires optimal utilisation within organisations. The method of Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP) enables you to tackle two significant challenges. First, it addresses the gap between the competencies currently present in the organisation and those needed. This is known as the flexibilisation challenge. Second, it bridges the gap between the competencies needed currently and in the future within the organisation, often linked to the strategy. This is referred to as the mobility challenge. Both together constitute a complex and sensitive issue. The interconnection between smarter in-, through-, and outflow of employees is mapped out with SWP and linked to actionable steps (such as smarter recruitment, employee retention efforts, temporary staffing, etc.). This allows you to directly shape your strategy.

Jester Strategy has a team of specialists who understand the sensitivities and complexities of SWP. With SWP, we have assisted many organisations in translating their strategy into action and executing it with the right talents.