Change Management Needs External Focus

Poor managerial performance is viewed more aslevel of individual customers is the pre-requisite. Some
structural rather than market factors. The mantra ofof the premium car companies have successfully
the managements for increasing efficiencies andadopted customization to meet customers' individual
profitability is more often than not structuralneeds across the globe and created markets where
adjustments within the organization.none existed.
Structural adjustments at best produce short termBuilding Non-Core Business
results. Many of the change initiatives fizzle out afterCapacities no more being a constraint the
the initial spurt in productivity while the managementorganizations need to build a strong brand and move
grapples with sagging morale and bottom-line.into unrelated businesses as well to drive revenues
Managements initiate more change for the sake ofand survive in a changing market scenario. If you are
keeping the trend going resulting in further worseningfocused onto a 'core business only' strategy you may
of the situation and employee attrition.be out of business the moment technology changes
The major Change initiative needs to focus on themake your product or market defunct. Building new
market forces and any internal change has to bebusinesses makes sense for managements who have
specific to orienting the organization and its peoplebuilt competencies in human potential and management
towards the markets.resources along with global brands.
Some key factors that need to be addressed forWith easy access to capital and ability to move capital
market oriented change initiatives:across international markets, it is very easy to own
Globalizationbusinesses with core management teams running
Globalization has created a new scenario wherevaried businesses internationally. With change in market
capacity is no longer the constraining factor for anyfactors business may be exited if the management
business. Huge capacities are available acrosshas the competence to forecast market and demand
geographical borders across product categories.trends.
Managements need to focus on the intangibles suchCreating a Customer focus across business divisions
as brand building and human resources rather thanHalf a century back Peter Drucker said Customer is
building capacities to expand markets. The phenomenalBusiness. Whether finance or projects every
overcapacity available especially in high populationdepartment in your organization must be tuned to the
countries with cheap labor creates price pressurescustomer and markets. They must be trained to be
which makes it detrimental for companies focused onmarketing oriented while performing their specialized
capacity expansion.functions. Businesses exist solely for the purpose of
Globalization has also created new levelscustomer.
competitiveness where price advantages alone mayThe necessity for adapting to relentless change should
not be able to create the market advantages. Theessentially be a change geared to the external
customer value-benefits vary across the borders.environments rather than internal processes. Internal
Organizations need to create products which satisfychange can create limited results and cannot be
the diverse needs of global consumers demanding apushed beyond a certain point. On the other hand
certain level of ethnic and geographical adaptation togearing up change focused on external factors can
meet local expectations and needs. The products cancreate a constant and never ending momentum
no longer be uniform and mass produced.forward for the organization.
Customization to market requirements and even to the