Labyrinth Strategy and Change Management Consultants
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Tools for Success

Great tools for any professional or group involved in strategy and change design, implementation and support. Each module briefly examines the purpose of the particular module, its importance in strategy and change design, provides explicit exercises suitable for management teams and their employees, templates, check lists, case studies, and step-by-step directions which provide in-house teams all they need to hit the ground running...

Each module is concise (5-35 pages) and provides "how-to" strategies with specific steps for achieving your goals and value-added results based on theory and best practices, but more importantly over twenty-five years of real-world corporate experience. Modules aren't just templates or checklists, but actual guides needed to implement strategy and change that has the capability of being sustained. Consulting is available on-site, virtual and by retainer, including contracting for hands-on implementation, and in-house training of staff. Please call for information.

Disclaimer: Labyrinth Strategy and Change may revise these terms and conditions from time to time by updating this site and will use reasonable efforts to include accurate and up-to-date information, but makes no warranties or representations as to the accuracy of information presented on the Labyrinth Strategy and Change web site. Labyrinth Strategy and Change shall not be held responsible for any action taken that is based on the information presented on the site, and all users of the site agree that all access and use of the site, and any and all content presented on the site, is at the user's own risk. Neither Labyrinth Strategy and Change nor any party involved in creating, producing or delivering this site shall be liable for any direct, incidental, consequential, indirect, or punitive damages arising out of user's access, use, any errors or omissions in the content of the Labyrinth Strategy and Change web site and or Modules. Case studies are fictitious and provided for learning purposes only, any resemblance to real persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Warning: Although the company has taken reasonable precautions to ensure no viruses are present in this email, the company cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage arising from the use of this email or attachments. While the information provided is believed to be accurate, it may include errors or inaccuracies.

STRATEGY & CHANGE
 
Mission, Vision, Values, Alignment and Metrics

Many organizations have mission, vision, and value statements that no longer are aligned with the way in which the organization conducts business, provides rewards to management and employees and or meets customer needs. Helps group to challenge alignment and or non-alignment of existing performance management rewards, metrics, and customer commitment. Also, useful as tools for Divisions and Functions designing their own mission and value statements with aligned metrics.

Recommended Companion Modules:
 
Stakeholder Analysis, Selection and Alignment

Stakeholder analysis, selection and alignment is one of the most critical steps in any large-scale strategy and or change project. Yet, it often is one of the most overlooked and or watered down steps that results in superficial sponsor identification, random selection of stakeholder groups and a weak communication strategy that is more "tell" than "engage". This module leads the group through an in-depth exercise to correctly identify, prioritize and align stakeholders, proactively address resistance, and develop a strategic communication strategy.

Recommended Companion Modules:
 
Strategy and Alignment Between Multiple Divisions Across the Organization
Strategies too often showcase wishful thinking, extensive PowerPoint® decks dedicated to large fonts, followed by a flurry of activities that usually have a strong start and a weak finish. In this module, we walk you through a case study in which you gain an in-depth appreciation and understanding of strategy as it pertains to design and implementation, alignment and non alignment across multiple operations and support functions (e.g. people, processes, systems, rewards), leadership capability, symptoms and root cause analysis. A great tool for any professional involved in strategy and change design, implementation and support.
 
Mapping the Future
Group exercise that provides management the opportunity to look into the future, test their reality, assumptions and comfort level, discover possibilities and probabilities (positive and negative) that will likely impact their organization via products, services and or competition and create a straw man for improved performance and next steps.
 
Value Creation Analysis

It is critical that organizations work effectively across functions and divisions to both receive and deliver the needed products and services to/from peers.

  • This exercise provides management the opportunity to engage in open conversation for improved performance across multiple divisions and functions.
  • Shared Metrics (on-site)

Recommended Companion Modules:
 
Beyond the Burke-Litwin Model
Expanding current popular management models to reflect more closely on today's environmental that too often have fuzzy objectives, boundaries, and polarized silos.
 
Cross-functional Contracting for Improved Performance

With today's demands, internal groups are beginning to lose patience with service provider groups whom they view as lacking responsiveness, inconsistency in providing quality value-added services and or products on-time, on-budget and user-friendly. This module takes the reader through the process of contracting across-functions for improved performance, creating a win-win, and develop shared metrics for success.
 
Voice of the Customer

Too often, voice of customer is considered the external customer. This module looks at the overall effectiveness of how well divisions, business units, functions are fulfilling their obligation to each other and next steps to meet client satisfaction. Contains exercise, templates, checklist and questionnaire.

Recommended Companion Modules:
 
Change & Strategy - Continuous Improvement (Core & General Competency Assessment)
High Level Module that guides reader through interviews and data collection to begin organization-wide or division wide assessment for continuous improvement.
 
Small Tools that Make a Big Difference
 
So What? Scenario
Too often people equate a flurry of activities with success, this tool helps individuals reflect upon actual results being created, encouraging organizational learning, credibility and focus on creating value-added results. Useful tool for management and employee dialog; strategy and performance reviews.
 
Silos, Politics and Roadblocks
Utilizing credible data, how to effectively dismantle silos, politics and roadblocks, across the organization, including addressing next steps Utilizes data collection module and formal report writing modules
 
Change Management Leadership Capability
It is not uncommon to hear management or employees discussing ‘the current flavor of the month program', which too often is a direct result of corporate or division strategic initiatives that appeared sleek and polished, but never quite make it across the finish line. This module helps create a high level assessment of leadership capability and commitment to design and implement effective change.
 
Conducting Strategy & Change Post-Mortems
Not a pretty word for a critical task. After each critical phase of completion directly related to strategy and or change design and implementation efforts, it is critical to conduct a post mortem for transparency, integrity, personal ownership of results, and transfer of organizational learning regarding what worked and didn't work in the strategy and change efforts...what specific results and impact was achieved...etc.
 
Sponsorship Selection and Participation
Modules that discuss the "how-to" create ownership, take advantage of opportunities, proactively address likely issues and create the needed transparency that will help your project succeed.
 
GAP ANALYSIS
 
Formal Data Gathering, Gap Analysis, & Report Writing
This isn't about presentations that put the viewer or reader to sleep, but rather how to get to the heart of issues, portray data with integrity, conclusions, and propose next steps to drive the needed change.
  • Data collection
  • Data assessment
  • Formal Report Writing to Present Data to Senior Management Team to create and foster transparency, needed change and transformation
  • Includes sample questionnaire
  • Sample mini gap analysis
  • Sample mini management transformation report
  • Sponsorship Selection
 
MARKETING & STRATEGY

Whether your organization is Profit or Non-Profit, organizations need financial health to survive and thrive. Today's sales and marketing functions are more sophisticated than those of two or three decades ago, and they are under greater pressure to perform.

Two Programs Available
Understanding marketing and sales (two very different entities) is critical for all management functions – especially those involved in organization-wide strategy design and implementation (e.g. Shared-Services, IT, Sales). This program has two options.
 
Marketing & Sales Orientation Bundle

Program 1:
Facilitation of management team to review, support and or challenge existing assumptions re: sales, market share, brands, strategies and existing possibilities according to:

  • Market and Customer Segmentation
  • Product & Portfolio Analysis
  • Competitive Opportunity Analysis
  • Geographic Expansion
  • Mapping the Future (e.g. economy, competition, brand loyalty, etc.)

Recommended Companion Modules:
Market and Customer Segmentation
Product & Portfolio Analysis
Competitive Opportunity Analysis
Geographic Expansion

Program 2: (see Marketing & Sales Orientation for Shared Service Professionals)

Marketing and Sales need their internal service providers to understand and respond to the needed alignment required for Marketing and Sales strategies to gain optimum results. This on-site 2-day training session helps service providers better understand and respond to marketing and sales needs to add true consulting capabilities.
 
 

Additional Modules Available

The following modules are either customized or bundled together. Please contact Labyrinth for pricing information.

Change and Strategy
Almost any or all of the modules listed are part of a larger strategy and change initiative that can be corporate wide, national, global, and or division specific, etc. Please contact us to discuss modules that would be the most appropriate for your particular strategy and circumstance.

Leadership Competency Assessment and Development

  • There is a vast difference between core competencies and personal leadership competencies, but both are intricately connected. Too often leadership competency is viewed more or less as a personal assessment of the individual, with little linkage to overall organizational strategy, culture, mission, vision, values, division/function capabilities and value-added impact.

  • This group of modules examines overall organizational competency at both macro and micro levels, beginning with an executive exercise that reviews value creation by Divisions and or critical functions according to contribution, value-add impact, strengths and weaknesses, and steps to raise the bar on performance. (this module may be purchased by itself)

Second group of modules (8) creates a strategy to assess leadership talent at multiple levels from an organizational-wide perspective (sr. mgt. team; mid management team, divisions, functions and employees). Can be customized to be Division specific. Note: Modules are available at a high level overview. Cost varies by size of organization, design and support requirements.

The bundle contains:

  • Assessment Exercise $2495 (purchase is available as individual module)
  • Leadership Competency Assessment
  • Strategy Design from Concept through Implementation
  • Leadership Competency Assessment (questionnaire)
  • Communication Strategy
  • Leadership Gap Analysis (Sr. Mgt. Team, Mid Management Team, and Division)
  • Leadership Profile Strategy
  • Developmental Plan Strategy (Individual and Division Level)
  • Performance Review Strategy and Alignment Across Multiple Divisions and Functions
  • Internal/external Cross-functional Contracting Strategy for ‘raising the bar’ and dismantling silos between and across Divisions for improved performance.

 Global Strategy &  Process Assessment

  • Many organizations have global processes that may be helping and or undermining performance.
  • This module provides the foundation for creating a customized strategy that provides critical stakeholders ("C" and SVP level) ability to examine issues and opportunities within large divisions and or across global processes to improve multiple levels of performance and increased alignment (U.S. and International).
  • Step-by-step Strategy
  • Questionnaire Format (design and implementation)
  • Data Collection
  • Gap Analysis
  • Formal Report for Senior Management Teams (presentations of findings, conclusions, suggested next steps)
  • Consulting for creating cross-functional performance improvement between multiple groups
  • Coaching and training of in-house staff so strategy/process above can be replicated in a robust manner across organization

Culture Scan and Culture Due-Diligence

Culture Due Diligence Check List Module
Many organizations have merged, will merge and or acquire other organizations. The 'people side' of the equation can make even a good strategy turn sour. This module contains a multiple page explanation and check sheet to help management team’s view their organization and other organizations from a systemic perspective in a manner that is proactive and considers sensitive issues opportunities so that it may consider possible next steps. (module available separately)

Culture Scan
Culture scan is a high level process, usually sponsored at the "C" and or SVP level, dedicated to the collection and assimilation of critical disparate data across the organization or division which provides high level assessment regarding issues and opportunities as it pertains to leadership, culture, strategy, workforce environment, alignment, silos, etc. Assessment includes data collection, gap analysis, formal report and presentation of findings to senior management team. This process is intense and highly sensitive, requiring external consulting.

Leadership Capability
Assessment & Development

(Please review Competency Assessment & Development Section for content and pricing and Add Additional Modules below. Contact for pricing). This strategy is for corporate-wide assessment of leadership team and or large divisions.

  • Defining Competencies
  • Pros and Cons of Forced Ranking
  • Leadership Strengths & Developmental Needs Snapshot
  • Communication Strategy (not your normal PR)
  • Creating Performance Reviews that Matter
  • Performance Review Templates Customized by Function
  • Metrics to Create Alignment

Marketing & Sales Orientation for Shared Service Professionals
Internal service support functions often talk about having a seat at the table, but may have minimal knowledge about sales or marketing other than at a 2000 foot level.  Utilizing the five modules above, Labyrinth provides a three-day on-site program that is customized for service support sectors to gain an in-depth understanding and appreciation of both sales and marketing and how to serve as a credible partner.  

Customized Scorecards and Customized Division/Function Performance Review Templates for continuous improvement and performance Review Systems

Client choice In-depth or Outline

  • HR Scorecard
  • It Scorecard
  • Facilities Scorecard
  • Sales Scorecard
  • Marketing Scorecard
  • Organizational Development Scorecard
  • Shared Services Scorecard