Transformation Methodology Implementation

When an organizational change is of sufficient scope and magnitude, it is critical to utilize approaches and methods specifically geared to business transformation. In making this determination, leaders should consider the following:

  • the results they need or seek
  • the timeframe within which the new results must be delivered
  • the capabilities and capacity the organization must develop in order to perform at a new level

When faced with the need for remarkable gains in performance and capability which will impact not only processes and tools, but also the organization’s identity and culture, then transformation is required. Achieving legitimate business transformation invariably requires a concerted, coordinated effort typically lasting from eighteen months to three years. At Maxcomm, we work with our clients to design and lead a comprehensive Whole Systems Approach

Phase 1: Setting the Stage

Transformation requires specific leadership approaches and up-front attention focused on interrupting the current way of doing business and creating positive momentum toward the future. This involves engaging key leaders and core stakeholders, creating understanding, clarifying strategic direction and building organizational capability.

  • Ensure top leadership commitment
  • Organize for transformation
  • Establish leadership capability and commitment
  • Envision the future state
  • Assess the current state
  • Prepare the organization for change
  • Develop transformation work plan

 Phase 2: Changing the Business

Once leaders are prepared to drive transformation, key changes are then identified and implemented with an eye to their becoming part of the fabric of the organization. Strategy is fleshed out and translated to an actionable level, pursued diligently and tracked rigorously. Processes and structure are aligned. Team and individual performance requirements are updated.

  • Define and adopt new strategy
  • Design and begin to implement elements of the future state
  • Address all “Six Systems” of the organization

- Leadership

- Communication

- Delivery and Support

- Measurement

- Accountability

- Human Performance

- Enhance organizational capability

The Six Systems of Organizational Effectiveness model provides a foundation to understand and improve any organization. It identifies organizational aspects that must function and reinforce each other. No one of the Six Systems can stand alone.

Phase 3: Transitioning the Business

A critical aspect of transformation is the time and attention required to ensure desired changes – both human and technical – are adopted as the new standard for the organization and carried through until they become the new “current state.” This step has been successfully addressed when employees no longer define the new way of doing business as “our transformation,” but simply as “the way we do business around here.”

  • Integrate and align all changes
  • Ensure successful individual transitions
  • Close transformation effort and celebrate success

Phase 4: Running the Business

What was once a vision is now continually modeled and reinforced in day-to-day business operations. The focus is on sustaining new processes, systems and behaviors. The next generation of strategic, performance and cultural challenges will be defined from a new baseline – one where leadership process, leadership performance and leadership culture have tangibly changed and the company is capable of competing at a new level and in new arenas.

  • Support the “future state” by continued reinforcement of systems, processes and people to ensure sustainability required for success
  • Regularly monitor internal and external organizational performance by establishing a business rhythm
  • Continue incremental change improvements and experiments

Few leadership challenges are as demanding or as comprehensive as business transformation. It requires individual and collective leadership to operate in high-performance mode for an extended period of time. Transformation is often undertaken in an unforgiving environment and faces unfavorable odds. In spite of this, successfully transforming the business is one of the most rewarding achievements in leadership and that reward often extends throughout management and employee ranks. At Maxcomm, we strive to help leaders achieve this kind of value through their work.