Organisational Development

What We Do - Change Management

Mergers, rising consumer expectations, government legislation and initiatives all cause change in organisations and its rapid pace in the public sector is set to continue. Superficial change has no impact and failed attempts can leave staff resistant to attempts to improve things in the future. Being effective in the public sector is increasingly demanding different solutions and different ways of thinking. The effects of change can reverberate around an organisation for a very long time and not in the ways intended. All change has repercussions and you either get it right or bear the consequences afterwards.

Most often there's no single solution to change projects although common themes routinely emerge across all sectors and point towards the need for:

effective leadership
active involvement of employees
better communication of clear plans but with the flexibility to change with events.
skills renewal and updating to meet new challenges

Where we can help you

The National School has breadth and depth of experience in all manner of change-related consultancy spanning individual or whole system change such as LEAN ways of working to remove waste and add value and the slicker, more immediate, citizen-focussed approach needed for service transformation.

What do you find difficult?

You might recognise some of the following common problems, issues and situations in relation to change in your own organisation:

You have the appetite to implement a change management programme but you're not quite sure of the best way of doing it and are keen to avoid the pitfalls.
You can see some of the road blocks to implementing a change project but want to make sure you've addressed them all.
You're aware that changes you are planning will affect other parts of the organisation and want to make sure you bring them on board with you.
There's fear of new ways of working and lack of adaptability among staff.
There's resistance to change, which can be expressed in many ways from subtle attempts to undermine you efforts to foot-dragging or outright attempts at sabotage.
Change projects fizzle out part way through.
Change projects have been implemented before but staff quickly reverted to previous ways of working.
You want to make sure you've carefully thought through and considered how a change project in your area will impact other parts of the organisation.

Our approach

Organisations are complex bodies with their own cultures, leaders and ways of working. We can help organisations deal with the pace of change in the public sector and the new challenges it brings. Our special position in Government helps us do this as we have access to the key players, analysts and influencers in Westminster and Whitehall. This means our work is rooted in best practice, so we know what works - and what doesn't - and because of this, we can help you see round corners.

The benefits to your organisation

Greater employee engagement - real "buy-in"
Improved employer/employee communication
Better staff morale
Improved flexibility in thinking, with positive spin-offs to staff performance
Greater understanding of workforce by the top management team
Greater cooperation across business areas
Top management and staff pulling in one direction
Better public relations

For further information

We would very much welcome the opportunity to work with you. For a no-cost, no-obligation initial conversation we would be delighted to hear from you.

Please contact:
Catherine Inskip 01344 634 092, gtn 3803 4092
catherine.inskip@nationalschool.gsi.gov.uk