The Secret to Success for a Shared Services Implementation

by Paula Alsher on Thu, Oct 12, 2017 @ 11:17 AM

The concept of Shared Services certainly isn’t a new one. It’s been a popular business structure since the 1980’s. But, even now in 2017, the number of organizations transitioning to a Shared Services model continues to rise. Why? Because the model makes simple, economic sense. If you centralize administrative functions and share them between business units, you will standardize processes, eliminate redundancies and ultimately reduce costs. Sounds easy, right? 

7 Best Practices for Communicating During Change

by Paula Alsher on Thu, Sep 07, 2017 @ 12:15 PM

Why is it after almost every project is complete, the most common suggestion for future initiatives is, “we need to communicate better?” Organizations spend a lot of time and money putting together intricate communication plans, but at the end of the day they hear the same “we aren’t very good at communicating” feedback time and time again. What is it that makes communicating during change so difficult? 

The Challenge of Culture Change: How to Motivate Your Organization to Move from the Status Quo

by Paula Alsher on Thu, Aug 17, 2017 @ 03:25 PM

Your corporate culture is the collective pattern of values, behaviors, and unwritten rules of your organization— in other words, it’s the collective Frame of Reference for your organization. Others can copy your products and services. Others can even imitate your marketing. But no other company can replicate your organization’s culture. Your culture is what makes you… you. 

Key Role Mapping: Your Battlefield Map for Successful Change

by Paula Alsher on Thu, Jul 20, 2017 @ 12:48 PM

One of the most significant questions organizations face in implementing a change is how many resources will we need to implement?  And following this, where will we need them?  The Who’s Who of a change implementation can be complicated.  Who are the Sponsors and who are the Targets?  Are the Sponsors Authorizing Sponsors or Reinforcing Sponsors?  Are they all located in one department or are they scattered throughout the organization? 

Full Speed Ahead! 4 Tips on How to Implement Change... FAST

by Paula Alsher on Thu, Jun 22, 2017 @ 11:54 AM

A few weeks ago, the CEO of Ford Motor Company was fired.  The reason: the company was not moving fast enough to compete in the upcoming automated car market.  It’s a real world example why speed isn’t just a nice to have… it’s a business necessity. The need to do a better job of delivering faster, better change has never been greater.  Quite simply, organizations who are able to implement faster are one step ahead of their competition, ultimately meaning they are more successful.  

Don’t be Fooled!  A Communication Plan is Not a Change Implementation Plan

by Paula Alsher on Thu, Jun 08, 2017 @ 01:00 PM

Recently, we were working with a business leader in a large organization on a major initiative and we asked him what his plan was for implementation.  His answer?  “Oh, we’ve got that under control.  We’ve got a project website set up, a focus group scheduled and an email campaign ready to go.”  

Mergers & Acquisitions: The Challenge of Integrating Two Cultures

by Paula Alsher on Thu, Jun 01, 2017 @ 11:43 AM

Your organization’s culture is arguably your greatest strategic asset.  Your competitors can potentially match your product or service by creating a marketing strategy as equally as powerful as yours.  But, no other organization has your culture. It’s what makes you successful in what you do.  So, what happens when your culture and another organization’s culture are supposed to merge into one? 

Implementing a New Change Management Process?  Here’s A Guide to Using Change Management on Change Management

by Paula Alsher on Thu, Apr 27, 2017 @ 10:17 AM

How’s this for irony?  You’ve finally convinced your senior executives about the benefits of applying structure to the people-side of projects.  You’ve been approved to implement a new change management methodology across the organization.  This is great news, and of course, you’ve selected the Accelerating Implementation
Methodology (AIM)
as your change management process of choice.  You’re so smart! 

Blending Continuous Improvement and Your Change Management Methodology: Building a Lean Culture with AIM

by Paula Alsher on Thu, Apr 20, 2017 @ 11:10 AM

Imagine a world in which your organization’s most complex issues are solved by a continuous improvement effort and then the new processes are implemented seamlessly into the organization.  Where Lean isn’t just a process improvement approach for a few, but a culture shift for the whole organization.  An organization that just doesn’t do “Lean,” but where a Lean mindset permeates through the organization.  Sounds perfect, right? 

Innovation and Change Management:  The People Side of Implementing a Great Strategy

by Paula Alsher on Thu, Apr 06, 2017 @ 10:21 AM

If your organization is like most, there is significant emphasis on implementing innovation across the enterprise. Developing market-leading products, business process improvements, new patient care models, ground-breaking strategies, new markets --- all offer substantial potential for increasing market share, efficiency, and competitive advantage. And let’s face it… competitive advantage is what everyone is seeking.