Case: When culture is key to realization of strategy
The international company had recently performed an extensive re-structuring process. A new global business area was in place. The assignment was clear; strong expansion, increased focus on the market, a more focused product portfolio and increased efficiency in all areas.
The management realized that culture was key to successful implementation. A new business developer was assigned project manager. She originated from a sub-unit where a successful efficiency project recently had been conducted with the support from PlanB. That particular project also focused on culture and how, when connected to strategy, the culture is a strong contributor to achieving the set goals; On time delivery, maintained quality and reduced costs by 40 percent in a period of three years!
This time the context was a business area spread over several continents; it was about changing focus from technology to business. It was a question of how to make the most out of all the widespread knowledge and competence as well as all business opportunities across all borders.
- The cultural change initiative played an active part in the realization of our new strategy, says the project manager.
With the assistance from PlanB a plan for the change process was formulated which also received the support of the executive body.Three overall areas were identified and for each of them a cultural goal was formulated.
- Our aim was to reach a common understanding of where we were going, what was most important, and which obstacles we could identify that prevented us from reaching our goals, says the project manager.
The method this time has been to conduct seminars twice a year with representatives from different parts of the worlds. The seminars are focused on the education of managers and key employees. This in turn enables them to conduct local seminars and workshops back home together with their respective local managements.
The work is planned for a three-year period, and so far two seminars have been held with the representatives. The reactions have been positive and the work is planned to continue for another two years.
- If your intention is strong expansion of your business internationally, then you are extremely dependent of your offices overseas. One necessary requirement is of course that the management has come to an agreement on our new direction and goals, as well as on how to get there, notes the project manager.
PlanB has been working together with the management board of the business area, and has also been acting as support and sounding board in the seminars and thereafter.- They are coaching and quality assuring our work along the way, but we are doing the actual work ourselves, says the project manager and ads;
-If we did not have the support from PlanB in this work, we probably would not have dared to act as we do now. They help us achieve real change in our organization. They do not just go in and make a change effort, and then leave. Instead we get a learning process, which helps us to continue by own force. This makes the change in our business more permanent, concludes the project manager.
