A medium-sized FMCG company was facing declining sales and margins. Its product range appeared less attractive compared to competitors, leading to the discontinuation of several items. The shareholders decided to replace the General Manager..
The new General Manager quickly assembled a fresh management team. They recognized that internal processes and structures were outdated, and the potential of employees was being underutilized. Talent was leaving, and recruiting leaders became increasingly challenging. To initiate change, a culture of trust, openness, and collaborative teamwork was sought.
The aim was to develop a shared understanding within the management team regarding the future company culture. Based on this foundation, the central elements of the new culture and a roadmap for implementation were to be established. The progress of these measures would be regularly reviewed to ensure that the new culture was evolving as planned.
The project included two workshops and subsequent “Cultural Monitoring.”
First Workshop
In the first workshop, the management team explored the existing company culture and prevailing attitudes. Some employees were invited to share their perspectives on the current culture. The team then crafted an initial vision for the desired culture, which was tested and further refined with real-world examples.
Second Workshop
In the second workshop, the new culture was further specified and visualized using the “Cultural Web.” Together, the participants defined the essential elements, such as performance management, symbols, myths, stories, and HR tools. A roadmap for cultural transformation was created, outlining milestones and quick wins. Ideas for implementing the new culture were discussed and piloted during the workshop.
Cultural Monitoring
Progress was secured through “Cultural Monitoring.” Every four weeks, a focus group assessed standardized statements about the new culture and developed measures to ensure the change.
The new company culture has been successfully established in nearly all areas. However, one area remains cautious about the changes. Together with the client, we are currently developing targeted solutions to achieve a sustainable integration of the new culture in this area as well and to further advance the positive development.
