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Results are driven by processes, and processes
are driven by structures. So trying to change
results within the same old processes and structures
is like walking against the wind: it will imply
massive, repetitive amounts of work to deliver
despite, or even against,
the negative inertia.
You can challenge the structures and processes
to have them
contribute to the results you want, hence creating
long term
backwind - positive inertia - to your initiatives.
We call this structural engines.
Structural engines can affect structures (office
lay-out, salary structure,
organisation chart
), or be process related
(approval or input process,
information flow, team interaction rules
).
- The sales bonus system at Thai Pure Drinks
Ltd was long 100%
volume related. So, salesmen focussed their
efforts on larger stores,
often not even stopping to serve small ones
- who turned
to competition. The Company now restructures
this counter-
productive bonus system, tying salaries to
the number of
served customers and expecting to revolutionize
sales peoples
behaviour overnight.
- Coca-Cola Belgium long struggled with sales/marketing
conflicts.
Brand managers seeked approval of their projects
by their
management, prior to « selling »
it to the sales team - who would
find 1001 operational reasons to reject it.
Change occurred when
the marketing director changed the process,
refusing to even
discuss a program that would not have Sales
support.
The process turned into a joint recommandation
from
joint sales/marketing subteams into their
respective management -
with tripled efficiency.
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