Case study - epta
Epta is a multinational group specialising in commercial refrigeration, based in Milan and with a worldwide presence.
more likely to recommend MAB as a place to work
improvement to communication (internal NPS)
of employees feel they fully understand the Mission, Vision and DNA
at the Business Culture Leadership Award
Epta UK was created when the parent company acquired two separate UK companies, however a lack of integration between these two companies, combined with a problem with production, led to some very testing times. Resilient as ever, they resolved the immediate production situation but Epta UK’s senior management team (SMT) were keen to avoid this situation being repeated; particularly as their marketplace was becoming more competitive with margins heavily challenged.
Looking to improve efficiency and motivate their employees in order to build a stronger, more unified business, the SMT realised they needed to effect a transformation of their organisational culture, including:
The SMT realised they needed to begin this project with working on themselves, as they felt they were not personifying the change they wished to see.
We were asked to lead an end to end cultural insight, design and implementation project, which included:
We used our core structured methodology, underpinned with a developmental approach for the SMT, upskilling them as an integral part of the project.
Delivered through our award-winning 3-stage methodology:
We completed a Culture Audit with our Culture Consultancy Organisation Culture Assessment™, which included a combination of surveys, focus groups and structured interviews. We also conducted additional insight gathering around the cultural dynamics between Epta UK and the parent company, Epta Group.
Deep analysis of the insights and performance data enabled us to identify the performance inhibitors and enablers in the existing culture. This stage concluded with an SMT workshop where we validated the conclusions, agreed on the case for change and gained full buy-in to the potential cultural change journey which would follow.
Working with the SMT, we designed a future-fit culture which we articulated in the form of an Epta UK Way; one that provided clarity on the desired ways of working for all staff in the UK, whilst also aligning with the spirit and intent of the Epta Group Values, Code of Practice and Guiding Principles. As well as crafting the description of the new culture we also created visual designs to further embed the new Epta UK Way within their communications.
A behaviour competency framework was developed creating a direct alignment between the Epta UK Way and expected behaviours; providing clarity to everyone. We adopted a facilitative approach to the development of the framework by forming a working group (made up of representatives from across the whole organisation) to shape the detail. This ensured engagement with, and ownership of, the resulting outputs which would play a key role in the success of their implementation.
No matter how well-designed, culture change will only become embedded across the organisation once every individual has engaged with the change journey. Building in an organisation-wide conversation is therefore pivotal to success. Using our 6Es Human Change Principles we developed a twelve-month plan for communicating culture change and supported the SMT in the development and delivery of a launch roadshow to all staff around the UK.
A launch roadshow and supporting communications alone was not going to bring about the culture change; it also required a well-considered culture transformation roadmap, one which would prioritise gaining early traction in achieving visible impact for the staff, as well as the business. Working with the SMT, we therefore developed an implementation roadmap for embedding the new culture into work practices across the UK organisation; wherever possible leveraging other strategic initiatives to help bring about the cultural shift.
The launch roadshow events engaged people in such a way that many people have volunteered to lead or be part of key change initiatives to improve ways of working in line with the new Epta UK Way, honing effectiveness and efficiencies as a consequence.
The process of embedding the Epta UK Way is ongoing so the full benefits are yet to be experienced. However, there are several benefits already being seen by the company including:
Through our work with Culture Consultancy, we have created a clear, highly engaging company-wide culture, focused upon achieving effectiveness and efficiency. It’s been a real eye-opener as to the impact that the values-driven behaviours could have in embedding our desired culture and bringing about the much-needed improvement of working practices.
We’ve felt supported every step of the way; initially to facilitate and guide us through a structured process for changing our culture; to more latterly, acting as an experienced soundboard or providing very targeted interventions as we grow in confidence and capability ourselves. The ability for you to build rapport quickly and appropriately ask the difficult questions have been key in unlocking some of our underlying challenges.
HR Director, Epta
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