Gelinas James, Inc. Training Programs

Collaborative Change: Improving Organizational Performance

Context. Have you ever:

Had an effort to increase customer service or decrease cycle time become irrelevant because of a dramatic shift in technology, market demand, or customer needs?
Been involved in a promising effort to change the culture of an organization only to have the project disappear into meaningless platitudes while employee cynicism reached a new high?
Been in the middle of implementing a new business process when the project stopped because the head of the organization was transferred?
Been ready to implement significant changes in an organization when the project was suspended to cut operating expenses?
Been in the middle of changing a critical business process (e.g., product distribution) and have key organization leaders query why the process needed to be changed at all?
Had a project stopped by a leader who didn't like what he or she was hearing about the organization?

Change initiatives are stopped, get sidetracked, or fail to achieve their goals for a variety of reasons. This workshop is about how to design and implement change processes which avoid these all too familiar pitfalls and achieve the desired outcomes. It is about how to build agreements with as many people in the organization as possible regarding what to change, how to change, and when to change.

Since organizations will no doubt continue to need to adapt to a market place which shifts at a dizzying rate, they must know how to learn and change effectively, efficiently, and nimbly. Organizations' ability to change is quickly becoming a competitive advantage. Making the process explicit and accessible allows clients to learn the process and make it their own.

Audience. Internal and external consultants, members of various staff functions (e.g., human resources, information systems, planning, audit, finance, research and development, legal affairs), trainers, and organization leaders can use the concepts, procedures, steps, examples, and case study to help them design and implement performance improvement initiatives.

Consultants and staff members can use the theory to educate their clients about what it takes to create change. The procedures, steps, exhibits, and examples can help them work more strategically and effectively with their clients.

Leaders can use the theory to increase their understanding of what is involved in leading change initiatives and what they need to do to maximize the return on the investments they make in improving their organizations. They can deepen their understanding of the importance of their own role and how to use their position to significantly increase the likelihood of success. They can learn how to collaborate with their supervisors, peers, and subordinates to improve their organization's performance. Finally, they can increase their ability to select and manage internal and external consultants.

Testimonials. Here is what leaders in the field of organizational change have to say about Collaborative Change: Improving Organizational Performance, the workbook which serves as the foundation for this workshop:

"Collaborative Change is a must-read for anyone working within organizations to make them more viable and effective. This book is practical and inspiring. It will give you everything you need to 'roll up your sleeves' and make successful change happen."

- Ken Blanchard, co-author of the all-time best-selling book, "The One Minute Manager."

"Collaborative Change is the most comprehensive, most thorough, most practical, most straightforward handbook on the how to's of organizational change on the market. It is destined to become a classic."

- Jim Kouzes, co-author, "The Leadership Challenge" and "Credibility", Chairman, Tom Peters Group

"Collaborative Change is a compelling and practical resource guide for consultants, leaders, and members of organizations involved in change initiatives. Nowhere will you find a more comprehensive book that tangibly outlines how organizations can foster and implement collaborative and cooperative changes quickly and effectively. It is the best work on the subject. It will remain a classic in how to facilitate sustainable and efficient changes within organizations without sacrificing people, missions, or bottom lines."

- Angeles Arrien, Ph.D., cultural anthropologist, author of "The Four-Fold Way" and "Signs of Life"

"Mary and Roger start from their experience, and they present it. Their vast experience is shown in the clear organization of their framework and the practical and comprehensible way they present each element of their model. Their work leads the change leaders in the effort to lead the organization in change."

- Dennis Jaffe, Ph.D. and Cynthia Scott, Ph.D., authors of "Rekindling Commitment."

Purpose. Collaborative Change is about how to improve organizations WITH the people who have a stake in them: leaders, members, customers, suppliers, boards, and community members. It provides a road map through the dynamic territory of organizational change. It provides a step-by-step approach which is applicable to any size organization or change initiative.

What You Will Learn.

How to develop a foundation for change including how to put in place the four cornerstones of successful change initiatives: (1) clear purpose and balanced outcomes, (2) sponsorship and leadership, (3) a customer-focused, comprehensive, collaborative, user-friendly change process, and (4) the commitment and capability of the leaders and members to change.
How to build agreement on the three keys to determining what changes are needed: assessing the critical factors in the current situation, defining the organization's mission and vision, and developing recommendations for change.
How to turn the organization's desires into reality while tending to the human aspects of change; how to handle the day-to-day, week-to-week challenges of putting into place all the changes the leaders and members have agreed to make.

Method. In this interactive workshop participants will have the opportunity to test the concepts, models, steps, and tools in small and large-group discussion, application, and role play.

What You Will Get.

A 345-page book published by Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer. The book is divided into three parts. The parts follow the usual stages of a change initiative. Each part starts with a chapter on the theory underlying the change process followed by chapters on procedures and applications.

Is Collaborative Change Right for You? Whether the changes you are contemplating for your organization focus on a single team, one organizational unit, several units, or the entire organization, this workshop will provide you with a roadmap, procedures, steps, tips, and tools to make it happen.

Our Commitment to You. This methodology has been tested and refined for nearly ten years. It has been implemented in a broad range of industries. It has been customized to support major information system redesigns. We know it works. We also know that every organization and every leader is different. Thus, we present the elements of the methodology as a series of options from which to choose so that you are more able to discern what will meet the needs of your circumstances. Over the years we have become adept at tailoring our approach to fit each organization's unique situation.

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