PROJECTS

Impact · Results · Delighted Clients

Click on the topics below to read about my work.

Deploying Change: Publishing — Worked in partnership with the client at corporate headquarters and managers from individual newspapers to reach consensus on a deployment strategy and workable timetable for a new Performance Management system. Conducted webinars and on-site training and coaching sessions in Project Management Essentials to build that competency among teams charged with transitioning & standardizing their newspapers’ performance management systems. Three years into the project, the system has been cascaded to all managers and several individual contributors in all of the company’s 29 markets.; High-Tech — Designed an engaging simulation-based workshop to challenge engineers and finance staff of a large high-tech company to work together and overcome their inherent allergy to all things process-related. After confronting their performance gaps in the workshop, participants engaged in team projects to address performance issues back at work.; Publishing — Designed a distributed-learning package to assist sales managers in choosing revenue-generating strategies appropriate for their individual markets and sanctioned by Corporate. Package included an interactive PowerPoint presentation and an Excel decision-making tool for sales managers to work through locally with their team and publisher.; Finance & High Tech — Customized Managing Performance programs for a large international training company. Engagements included interviewing staff to develop examples, customizing program materials and instructor guides by incorporating company-specific vocabulary and content, overseeing production of materials, and facilitating pilot sessions and focus groups. Once course was fit, consulted with clients in cascading learning throughout their organizations.; Healthcare — Worked in partnership with University of Michigan gaming experts on designing a healthcare reform simulation. The product was used in facilitated work sessions to help hospital managers, physicians and insurance representatives better understand the stakes and impact of their decisions before entering negotiations.

Developing Leaders: High-Tech — Worked collaboratively with the client team to create an innovative new approach to initiating and supporting new managers world-wide as they transition to their new role. Engagement included development of activities, courseware and instructor guides, and computer-assisted wrap-around products. Conducted pilot workshops and focus groups in both the US and Asia.; Public Sector — Designed and delivered comprehensive multi-session leadership and management development training programs for several of the nation’s leading municipalities. Curriculum included topics such as transitioning to management, managing change, coaching for improved performance, project management essentials, delivering powerful presentations, achieving outstanding customer service, organizing and delegating work, and motivating others. Inspired and challenged more than 500 managers, supervisors and leads; certified and licensed instructors.; Not-for-Profit — Developed and delivered one-hour booster-shot sessions on a variety of personal leadership topics to help build esteem and skills in welfare-to-work and high-school dropout program participants.

Identifying Requirements for New Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems: High-Tech — Before launching a new ERP system, this high-tech company wanted to ensure they were automating the best possible systems and workflows that met both internal and external customer requirements. Designed an integrated curriculum for Building Process Capability including workshops, courseware, and facilitated team sessions. Workshops and courseware were offered in a just-in-time manner and were menu-driven allowing leaders to focus on their specific needs. All manufacturing managers and supervisors attended the training and launched redesign teams to drive new enterprise software specifications.; Municipality — Worked with IT and business owners of this progressive municipality in developing specifications for their new ERP system. Managers attended a series of workshops and coaching sessions to learn common vocabulary and methods so they could streamline processes and clarify requirements with each other before IT issued an RFP.

Benchmarking: Conducted national benchmarking studies to determine best-in-class technologies and methods. Engagements included telephone and face-to-face interviews, site-visits, demos of technology and secondary research. Representative studies:

laptop sales tools for a leading earth-moving equipment manufacturer
computer-assisted service tools for a leading earth-moving equipment manufacturer
training registration software for a progressive municipal conference center
deployment of change practices for a California-based consulting firm
protective coatings maintenance programs for pulp and paper mills

Building Process Capability and Customer-Driven Results: Banking — Developed the Customer Driven Quality program including the design of texts and courseware, and customization of workshops for many Federal Bank audiences. Conducted training for more than 300 managers and supervisors in Texas and certified instructors. As a result of the training, more than 100 teams have accomplished dramatic time and cost savings in almost every department and the Bank has applied for the Texas Quality Award. Customer Driven Quality has been integrated into the Bank’s business philosophy and competency in process-focused tools and techniques are required of all employees.; High-Tech — Supported manufacturing, engineering and finance leaders in developing a process-focused culture and deploying best-practice methodologies in a manner acceptable to their managers and teams. Designed a rapid-deployment tool kit and delivered training for Building Process Capability giving team leads the flexibility to customize key steps based on available information and risk. Designed and facilitated high-involvement workshops to build the business case for process redesign and overcome resistance to standardization. Also worked integrally with project teams by facilitating several high-stakes meetings helping engineers and manufacturing leads reach agreement about the root cause of problems and develop improvement strategies.; Healthcare — Deployed Continuous Quality Improvement initiatives at several hospitals. Engagements included development of workshops, texts & job aids, training instructors, delivering training in a just-in-time manner to project team leads, and facilitating high-stakes meetings for the development of clinical pathways. Hospitals successfully saved several million dollars (collectively) by reducing length-of-stay while improving patient satisfaction and meeting Joint Commission requirements.