SERVICES
Making Reorganization Work — On a Massive Scale
A major consumer products company needed to generate $100M in G&A savings to fund new product and brand marketing investment. Jim Lawler was asked to take a leadership role in planning and implementing the reorganization.
His approach began with interviewing senior management and establishing principles to guide the reorganization. Then he applied the principles to develop policies for selection and separation processes that were practical, explainable to associates, and legally defensible.
Jim managed the decision-making process around appointments and separations to ensure consistency with principles, policies, and overall objectives of the reorganization. He also oversaw the planning and communication of the reorganization implementation process to line and HR managers across approximately 50 field locations and corporate headquarters.
A FOCUS ON COMMUNICATION Another critical step was planning and coordinating the communication process to advise employees of the reorganization and its rationale, principles, policies, and procedures. In the course of this process, over 100 meetings were conducted by senior management, delivering a clear and consistent message to thousands of employees.
Ultimately, the reorganization reduced 1,800 positions across more than 50 locations, resulting in the targeted savings. Equally important, the reorganization was accomplished in a way that allowed the company to retain key players and the commitment of the employees who stayed with the company. As a result, the company was able to move forward and deliver record-setting performance after the reorganization.