I FIRST MET JOHN KOTTER IN LATE 1995 AT HARVARD OVER LUNCH
If I recall correctly he had recently achieved a fair degree of fame with his article in the Harvard Business Review entitled “Leading Change: Why Transformation Efforts Fail.”
The lunch was typical University fare, which is to say somewhat plain. Certainly not a candidate for Yelp!
However the conversation was anything but! John had identified the types of change that were, and still are forcing corporations to adjust, or in some cases transform themselves, sometimes just to survive.
The key forces he identified were
- Technology,
- Increased International Economic Integration,
- Lack of Growth Domestically,
- and Emerging Countries linked to the capitalist system.
In addition, I think the shift from a Supply Based Economy from the sixties until recently to more of a Demand Economy, plus the rate of change also has profound effect. The focus has shifted from the operations side of the house to a more strategic emphasis on Markets and particularly Customers.
This is probably why many companies continue to focus on product, processes and systems for improvement, as this is relatively speaking the easiest to influence and change. However for longer term durability, deep transformation and impact to the business the more difficult aspects of change are mandatory.
This means also tackling the longer term issues of Values, Behavior, and the Corporate Culture.
Too many clients pay lip service to the longer term, and therefore never achieve the full benefits of change, and the opportunities it presents for renewal.
With a more comprehensive approach which includes both the operational and the strategic aspects of the business, a new level of performance is possible. The level of alignment between the systems and the business can be measured and enables one to see the gaps and inconsistencies within the organization.
That is real change. SAP Doctor, our recently developed software tool enables corporations to see at what level they are performing, along with the gaps and inconsistencies that stop companies from making real improvement.
