Our Alignment and Behavior work typically supports a broader strategic transformation in the business. The first step in undertaking a significant change effort, is to define the type of challenge you are facing and then match the approach for managing the change.
An adaptive challenge requires fundamentally new ways of thinking and acting. Doubling revenues in a flat market, exceeding financial targets in a merger, and dramatically increasing the value of an R&D pipeline are examples of adaptive challenges our clients have faced.
An adaptive challenge is distinct from an operational challenge. Operational challenges are still significant as well, but the organization has the skills and abilities to achieve it, so it becomes a matter of executing flawlessly—no easy task! It’s just a different type of task.
One of the most common mistakes leaders make is not matching the approach to large scale change with the type of challenge they are facing. Using an operational change management approach to address an adaptive challenge will not be successful. A mismatch between the type of challenge and the approach results in wasted time and resources and unsuccessful change efforts.
We have found the types of organization change fall along a spectrum, defined by the level of ambition and the nature of the challenge and solution. Any one organization may have many types of changes going on at once. We have described these types of challenges in the diagram below.
Systematically driving an organization towards a known outcome
Using existing capabilites through excellent planning and execution
Depends on solid traditional change management
Engaging an organization in a process to solve a challenge that exceeds current capabilities
Generates creative solutions and lasting commitment and builds ongoing capacity for change and adaptation
Requires different approaches to achieve and sustain results
Results from mastering and
institutionalizing adaptive approaches
to change
Focus is on creating the critical
conditions in the organization for
desired change to reliably emerge
over time
