 Assistance in Management of a Major Change
The Background
A bilateral agency (the agency channels over 150 million dollars annually) supporting state governments and the govt of India in areas like water supply, power and infrastructure, had a significant strategic shift in their way of operating in India. This shift arose out of a review carried out by the head office and had significant implications on how people would be organised. The changes included a major physical relocation, and changes in the ways of working. There were many cultural factors to be taken into account since the agency had a mix of expatriate and Indian staff.
The Task
The task was to make the process as participative as possible, while at the same time ensuring that the end result was achieved. It was also important that during this process regular work did not slow down.
The Approach
The agency hired an international consulting firm along with Cerebrus Consultants, and we worked jointly to help the process. The two organisations worked closely for over a year. A series of workshops were held over a period of 6 months. These workshops were held with the senior management of the agency who had never really met earlier as a group. Similar workshops were also held with sections of the organisation. Over the course of these workshops, the process of working together as a team began to happen.
These workshops were followed by consultations within the organisation, and simultaneously, communication sessions were continuously held. A detailed manpower plan was prepared to enable the change.
The Result
The process is ongoing. The agency has gone ahead with more change than originally anticipated. The process has been participative, optimum decisions have been taken, and many individuals have taken on different roles. |
