Organizational Performance ::

Workitect provides help to organizations in all areas that have an impact on the allocation and utilization of organizational and human resources. When working on an assignment, we draw on our expertise in a number of different areas in order to adequately address the client’s problem. For example:

A change in the organizational structure to meet the needs of the business plan may affect the climate of the organization, which may in turn require an organization development type of intervention.

Implementation of a performance-appraisal program may require installation of a management-by-objectives system so that performance is evaluated against agreed-upon objectives and standards.

Productivity or quality improvement may involve work on organizational issues such as the structure, management systems and climate, plus work on human resource areas, such as training and education, and reward systems.

Succession planning may require changes in the design of the organization and of specific jobs, plus changes in supporting human resource systems, such as staffing, career planning and information systems.

Strategic corporate planning has a direct impact on both organizational planning and human resource planning.

Process consulting is at the heart of most of our work. This means that we have a basic belief that our clients already possess the technical information and knowledge to develop a strategy or improve their organization’s performance. The value we add is to provide concepts, tools, guidance and facilitation (in other words, a process) to help management teams be more effective.

Articles

Gaining Employee Commitment to Organizational Change [562kb PDF], a 6 page reprint from Communication World, published by the International Association of Business Communicators describes an organizational improvement model and the use of graphics and metaphors to help employees understand and embrace needed change.

Creating and Communicating Organizational Change [1.6mb PDF], a 3-page reprint from Public Utilities Fortnightly, describes a service quality change initiative in a utility company

How To Get Top Notch Change Agents [2.6mb PDF], reprint of a 4-page Training and Development Journal article, outlines approaches to selecting and evaluating high-performing change agents and consultants.

Selecting and Retaining Internal Change Agents: Is There a Better Way? [11.1mb PDF], reprint of a 7-page EMA (now SHRM) Journal article, reviews twelve competencies of successful change agents and consultants, along with strategies for minimizing turnover of change agents.

Projects

Ashland, Inc. [128kb PDF]
Describes a large scale change effort that won the Saratoga Institute’s Best Human Asset Management Award in the category of CEO & HR Alignment.

Cigna Dental Health [81kb PDF]
Describes a process that increased employees’ understanding of the business, the strategic direction, and the need to work productively as a team.

American National Can [116kb PDF]
Describes the use of competency-based performance management as a comprehensive change strategy.