Combining Two Global Computer Systems Providers
Bond us together after a merger
The programme was widely recognised as providing a huge boost to the post-merger effort and received more than 95% positive scores in evaluations. The delivery of the programme by managers was highly developmental for managers and helped to ensure the change was seen to be demonstrated and owned.
“When we came here this morning it felt like ‘them’ and ‘us’. Now it feels like we all work for the same company. The power of this event is amazing.” Programme participant
The challenge
Our client had just completed a global acquisition and needed to bring together three very different cultures. Our brief was to design and implement a programme to be experienced by all 20,000 European employees. This was the most significant communication investment of the integration process, and was to be a major milestone in developing a common understanding of the company’s combined heritage and commitment to its new direction.
The solution
A one day programme of interactive team processes was designed to reflect the new company (complex, multidimensional, challenging and exciting) and the attributes required to achieve its objectives (energy, involvement, imagination, spirit and action).
The programme was developed in record-breaking time – from the initial concept to delivery of the combined pilot and ‘train the trainer’ event took just two weeks.
Facilitators of the programme were taken from the line and experienced a significant boost in their skills and confidence during the train the trainer programme.
The train the trainer was followed by a Europe-wide roll-out with teams of three facilitators coaching groups of 45 participants, drawn from all three companies involved in the merger. Through a host of interactive exercises, games and challenges the participants learned about the heritage and strengths of each others’ organisations, the vision of the combined organisation and helped construct the road that would take them there.
The result
The energy, camaraderie and enthusiasm were extraordinary – a real breakthrough for the combined organisation. The programme was widely recognised as providing a huge boost to the post-merger effort and received more than 95% positive scores in evaluations. The delivery of the programme by managers was highly developmental for managers and helped to ensure the change was seen to be demonstrated and owned.
They said
“When we came here this morning it felt like ‘them’ and ‘us’. Now it feels like we all work for the same company. The power of this event is amazing. If this is the new company then I want to be a part of it!”