Day 1: Understanding the Expense Base and Its Drivers

Analyzing Spend Profile

• Group expenditure by category/unit/frequency
• Identify high-value and rapidly growing categories
• Separate committed from discretionary spending
• Build spend profile for one department

Applied Cost Drivers

• Connect cost with volume/service complexity
• Identify behaviors creating repeat expense
• Distinguish driver from accounting classification
• Test one driver using available data

Budget Variance Diagnosis

• Separate price quantity and scope effects
• Identify temporary versus structural overspend
• Link variance with specific operating events
• Prepare a cause-based variance explanation

Day 2: Designing Cost-Control and Reduction Actions

Applied Value-Based Challenge

• Question demand before negotiating unit price
• Identify work that can stop/simplify
• Protect activities to quality or compliance
• Prioritize expense areas for challenge

Savings Option Design

• Estimate financial effect and implementation effort
• Identify risks created by each reduction
• Sequence quick wins and structural changes
• Build a targeted reduction plan

Controls Preventing Cost Rebound

• Set approval rules for sensitive expenses
• Use budgets, limits, usage standards appropriately
• Monitor exceptions without blocking normal work
• Design preventive control for recurring overspend

Day 3: Benefits Validation and Expense Review

Conducting Savings Measurement

• Define baseline period and calculation method
• Separate savings from volume or effects
• Confirm cost reductions in financial results
• Prepare a verified-savings schedule

Monitoring and Correction

• Track expense and service indicators together
• Detect cost shifting across units/periods
• Correct actions when service effects escalate
• Set review points for each initiative

Expense Review Simulation

• Present cost profile and selected actions
• Defend savings assumptions with evidence
• Respond to a sudden service-capacity concern
• Approve controls owners and follow-up dates

• Spending analysis identifying categories and underlying drivers
• Variance cases separating price quantity timing and scope effects
• Savings designs tested against service and operational consequences
• A management review validating an expense-control portfolio