The Moorad Choudhry Anthology, + Website

PART VCase Studies: Analysis, Coherent Advice and Problem Solving

“One problem was that the older guys in the band seemed to want to just sit in the pub and talk about doing things, whereas I wanted to get out and actually do them.”

—Friend of the author, 7 July 1984

The last part of this book is really only one chapter (the second chapter in Part V, Chapter 20, is a guide to the book's associated website). In Chapter 19 we attempt to demonstrate what is perhaps the one thing that the banking industry has in common with the medical profession: namely, that before one can occupy a position as a senior executive or Board member in a bank, one should have demonstrated wide ranging experience as well as exposure to diverse forms of the same problem. In other words, such roles are the equivalent of the hospital consultant. (Another cultural working practice that both industries should adopt is that of learning from one's mistakes – as Matthew Syed makes clear with respect to the medical professional in his book Black Box Thinking.) We provide a range of case studies, from very different types of banks, outlining the problem and the approach taken to provide and implement a solution. We hope this demonstrates a best‐practice approach to analysis, problem solving, and providing advice. Ultimately, there are always many forms of the same issue to observe, and the more often one comes across them the better it is to aid understanding.