Articles

Take a more in-depth look at key organizational improvement issues and challenges in articles and papers written by our experienced team.

Listen Up, Power Down: How Leaders Drive Culture Change

Learn how leaders can use their emotional intelligence to be more effective communicators in today's technology-driven world.

 

Are You Really Ready for Disruptive Innovation?

We all know innovation is a powerful competitive advantage. But disruptive innovation actually changes the existing business model. To succeed, a leader must really let go and allow the process to flow. Find out if you and your organization are ready.

 

04.21.13  Hannah Prevett

Keep it Simple, Like the House Jack Built at GE

When Jack Welch was boss of GE, the giant American conglomerate, he extolled the virtues of “speed, simplicity and self-confidence”. Businesses are now realizing why he put such an emphasis on encouraging simplicity.

 

04.08.13  Nadim Matta

We Should Stop Using the Term 'IT project'

When organizations like GE, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and the World Bank want to accelerate implementation and change, they call on Nadim Matta, president of the Rapid Results Institute and senior partner at Schaffer Consulting.

 

02.04.13  Ron Ashkenas

Three Strategies Against Complexity

This article offers managers three strategies to help them avoid creating complexity in their organization.

 

Are Banks Too Big to Manage?

Smaller is not necessarily better when it comes to banks. What makes banks so difficult is not their size, but the level of complexity that envelops so many of them. This article offers three approaches to simplify processes, products, and services.

 

12.05.12  Matthew McCreight

Are You Diving Into the Deep End of Your Talent Pool During M&A

Though talent is usually at the top of the list of strategic objectives at the start of a merger, it rarely is still there at the end. This article describes different ways to not only keep that top talent, but to use a merger as an opportunity to multiply talent.

 

11.09.12  Ron Ashkenas

Mining Effeciency at Voorspoed Mine

Under the guidance of a South African consultant mentored by us, De Beers used Schaffer's Rapid Results approach at its Voorspoed mine to increase its mining efficiency by 12% over a 100-day period.

 

08.15.12  Wes Siegal

From Regulator to Business Enabler: Use Employee Communications to Re-Position Your Compliance Function

By keeping communications relevant to employees and activities, and positioning compliance as a critical enabler of organizational purpose, compliance leaders can help employees across the value chain support and implement compliance requirements.

 

M&A Payback in 100 Days

Learn how focusing on the transformation of the organization, gaining commitment from the leadership team, and developing a culture of breakthrough performance can create a new company that is more competitive, capable, and successful than either company could have…

 

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