AstraZeneca Case Study | Making The Difference

The Brief

In November 2007, AstraZeneca’s Netherlands office (AZNL) commissioned NKD to help re-energise and re-focus its 60 managers, thereby driving higher performance across the organisation.  AZNL wanted to inject its managers with a renewed passion and energy that would result in positive working mindsets. The workshop needed to link to existing internal cultural audits and individual feedback processes within AZNL so that managers could clearly see improvements in attitude and performance.
 

The Solution

A 1-day ‘Making the Difference’ workshop was developed, designed to excite managers about the power of a positive mindset and help them understand the behaviours needed to engage and excite their employees.

Prior to the workshop, NKD conducted research with a selection of managers to identify the existing levels of ‘skill’ and ‘will’ (motivation) within the group. Using these results, NKD was able to design a highly interactive session that allowed delegates to explore their own mindsets, and those of others.  Crucially, delegates were shown the impact of their own mindsets on the behaviours of others. The workshop also examined the changing pattern of leadership theories over recent decades and presented Gallup 12 research to demonstrate the 21st Century approach.

Open debate and discussion took place about real ‘live’ business issues that got in the way of engaging people. This took place in a warm and inviting learning space which was enhanced with event branded banners, DVD clips and slideshow.  

To allow the workshops to be delivered in Dutch, and to add a stronger credibility to the programme, five AZNL facilitators were recruited to lead the workshop.  Prior to the event, each facilitator passed through a bespoke ‘Train-the-Trainer’ programme designed by NKD. To accommodate English speakers, and for the AZNL facilitators to experience the programme themselves, NKD delivered a single pilot workshop.
 

Results

The feedback to the workshops has been excellent, with the events scoring an average of 4.96 out of 6 in post-event surveys.  AZNL has been delighted with the ongoing positive changes in managers’ behaviour since their participation.

To ensure managers maintain their renewed momentum, and to further reinforce its commitment to delivering high performance,  AZNL has now asked NKD to look at developing the next stage of its management commitment programme.