In this issue, we feature examples of how leadership teams can simplify and transform their organizations. The story of a major electric utility highlights how to generate dramatic, company-wide  results – fast; and the story of Kenya shows the enduring impact that can be driven with the Rapid Results Approach.

In 2010, Schaffer Consulting helped a major electric utility significantly cut costs, enhance revenue and build the capability of its staff to drive noteworthy change. Following its acquisition by a global utility, this US-based company aimed to become an attractive location for future corporate investment. This would require dramatically improved performance, and the creation of a culture allowing employees to experiment and discover fundamentally new ways of working. Read more.

In 2003 and 2004, Schaffer Consulting worked closely with the World Bank Institute to introduce Rapid Results work into various Kenyan government agencies. More than seven years later – and despite a period of tremendous political upheaval several years ago – the Kenyan coaches trained at the start of this work are supporting an expanding scope of work that is making a major difference across the country. For example, in February, Prime Minister Raila Odinga announced at the Economist Conference in Nairobi that the Government will implement its constitution using Rapid Results Initiatives.

A major challenge in simplifying an organization is where to start – and doing so in a way that will make a difference to the success of an organization. Last month many of you took our on-line Complexity Assessment. The results overwhelmingly indicate a strong potential (87%) for improvement by streamlining processes first as shown in the chart below.

Read the full results of all four areas of complexity – structure, product, process, and management behavior.

If you are interested in learning more about how to use the Complexity Assessment in your organization contact us.

Thank you to those who participated in our survey on the subject of "demand-making" – based on Robert Schaffer's best selling Harvard Business Review article. While those of you who took the survey identified a number of areas where you felt you could improve, you rated four as having significant room for improvement:

• Establish too many goals.


• When my people insist, "it can't be done," I ease the goals or give more time.


• I accept see-saw trades ("Sure, boss, I can accomplish A, but you'll have to forget about B.").


• I let my people get sidetracked on the ...

Ron Ashkenas, senior partner of Schaffer Consulting, was recently featured on FOX discussing ways to improve business success and competitiveness in the wake of the transforming impact of online marketing tools and of social media.  Ron’s  suggestions include imagining firing yourself to make a fresh start leading your business. Watch the interview to hear more ideas.

Rapid Results Start From The Bottom Up In his latest Economist “Ideas Economy” blog, Matthew McCreight, managing partner of Schaffer Consulting, makes the case for tackling transformational change by tapping into the tremendous hidden potential for higher performance in every organization. He draws on Schaffer Consulting cases including helping the Ministry of Health in Eritrea stabilize the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in the country in 2003 and helping the state of Connecticut dramatically reduce staff injuries in mental health hospitals. Read more and add your comments to his blog.

Promoting Talent and Research in International Management – The Robert H. Schaffer Award
Schaffer Consulting announces the creation of The Robert H. Schaffer Award for the Best Paper in Applied International Management, to be awarded annually by the International Management Division of the Academy of Management. The award honors Robert –  a distinguished leader, innovator, and pioneer in the management consulting industry. It will be presented at the Academy of Management’s Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, on August 15, 2011, to the writer of the best paper on applied international management. Read more.

Suzanne Francis leads Schaffer Consulting's post-merger integration practice. A Schaffer consultant for more than two decades, and former managing partner of the firm, Suzanne finds working with senior executives to create successful growth businesses through the integration of mergers, acquisitions, or joint ventures a great opportunity to demonstrate the power of rapid results. She believes there are few events in the life of a business that rival the risks and rewards inherent in combining businesses. She has focused on helping leadership teams to set ambitious financial and cultural goals and then mobilize the talent to achieve them. Two articles ...