Case Studies

Horizontal Organizations/Global Teams

A multi-billion dollar Beauty & Health care provider was expanding globally. They determined that cross-functional brand teams would be a critical component to speed their design to market efforts. GDS was contracted to architect the new organization structure and facilitate the implementation of the cross functional teams. The approach we used to successfully manage the change was as follows:

STEPS

1. Created the Strategy: At this planning meeting we discussed project steps, time frames, prep for the communication overview, determined focus group participants, and developed a draft "game plan" to align the teams & key functional stakeholders.

2. Communication Overview: Corporate leadership conveyed the goals of the initiative, GDS explained the process. At this juncture we explained the background of the concept, the process we would employ, and gave key players the ability to have any questions answered to gain "buy-in".

3. Focus Groups: We gained a picture of player perceptions of past cross-functional team processes and issues to address.

4. Aligned Senior Team: Vision, individual & team accountabilities, project steps, etc.

5. Constructed Protocols:
   • Role of team
   • Influence/impact (leveraging the vertical organization)
   • Membership
   • Accountability of members
   • Conflict resolution/structure steps for closure
   • Measurement of team success

6. Constructed Performance Management System/Compensation Link
   • 360⁰ system

7. Trained Team Leaders/Facilitators
   • Built internal capacity to accelerate team effectiveness.

8. Team Interventions/Alignment
   • Aligned/empowered teams with skills, authority and information to achieve goals and P&L objectives

9. Assessed Team Progress
   • Planned, periodic checkpoints
   • Aligned with key partners (customers/agencies)

10. Provided New Skills
    • Influencing
    • Conflict Resolution
    • Performance Management
    • Problem Solving

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