11.3. Part 1: Strategy Discussion
The first activities focused on introducing people to one another and getting them to talk about their reactions to the strategy.
11.3.1. Initial Table Introductions
Each table group selected a discussion leader and a scribe. We decided to kick off with "getting to know you" questions so that people would begin to learn about one another in work-related and more personal ways. The groups then moved on to generating questions about the strategy. Following are the questions we included:
What is your name and role?
What is your favorite reality TV show, or what you do when everyone else is watching reality TV?
Describe a project you have worked on at BizTech that was particularly rewarding. What made it so?
What questions do you have about the strategy and your team's role in executing it?
Table groups then identified the "burning" questions that had been raised about the strategy and individuals' role in it, and the scribe recorded these on the flip charts by the tables. Burning questions often related to the following:
Workload and how the new products could be developed, given the current pace and work demands
The feasibility of developing technical solutions for processes that are traditionally paper based
IT systems integration challenges
11.3.2. Strategy Presentation
The executive hosting the workshop walked around the room and engaged in brief conversations with each of the table groups to gain a sense of the questions that were on employees' minds.
The executive then gave a concise presentation of the new strategy, including the business case, the desired outcomes, and the necessity of enhanced collaboration. After covering these basic points, the executive then addressed some of the questions posted around the room and engaged with the participants in a relaxed, open manner.
The next step was for table groups to delve into the connection between the new strategy and their day-to-day work. Each individual discussed the following questions with his or her table group:
How does what I do contribute to the strategy?
What challenges does BizTech have in implementing the strategy?
How could BizTech address those challenges?
What could I do differently to help execute the new strategy?
As each participant addressed these questions, the scribe at each table noted recurring themes and topics. Recurring themes included the following:
Technology integration
Market strategy
Customer interface
Implementation resources
Structure and rewards
Communication and networking
Table groups then reported the themes from their conversations and continued to explore these topics with the executive host for 30 to 45 minutes. The executive took notes on key suggestions. At this point we took a break.