biomatrix organisation transformation programme
introduction
Organisations often respond to the changing business environment with a range of uncoordinated change initiatives. External consultants can be costly, and often they create further disorder and instability. Organisations may want to build up their own change management capacity to limit external interference, but without a proper methodology, more than two thirds of change interventions fail.
In response to this need, BiomatrixWeb with USB-ED (University of Stellenbosch Business School – Executive Development) present the Biomatrix Organisation Transformation Programme (BOTP). This 12-month learning intervention is both a consulting intervention and a management education programme. It provides a methodology for transforming the client organisation into a sustainable learning matrix that can creatively respond to on-going change. Selected members of an organisation are educated on the theory of systemic organisation development and change management, and guided to apply the theory to the design and implementation of the organisation’s transformation.
The effective delivery of the programme requires eight teams, each tasked with a specific aspect of the organisation transformation. With a minimum of 3 team members the total number of programme participants is 24. The programme is designed to be delivered in modules, and can be customised to the unique requirements of the client organisation.
who should participate?
Every organisation will benefit from becoming a learning matrix that is wired for creative and sustained development. Organisations that are faced by threats to their survival would need it urgently in order to innovate and reinvent themselves, while problem-riddled and uncoordinated organisations would need it to create a stable basis from which to change. Bureaucratic or stale organisations would need the programme as a stimulant for creativity.
The involvement and alignment of stakeholders throughout the programme will help to prepare the organisation for transformation and will help to ensure the relevance and customisation of the design. To ensure a high level organisational focus, managers that are destined for senior and executive positions should be selected as programme participants. A top management representative should be included to steer the project.
what does it cover?
The programme involves the following phases:
programme scoping and management
This phase consists of setting up a Programme Steering Committee, selecting the programme participants and determining the time-table for programme delivery. The on-going management of the project involves meetings with the committee, as well as regular feedback reports and presentations to top management. A workshop with top management is suggested in order to familiarise them with the theory and methodology and customise the programme according to the organisation’s requirements.
generating stakeholder inputs
The programme participants (or BiomatrixWeb on behalf of the Programme Steering Committee) administer an organisation-wide diagnostic and brainstorming survey to elicit specific stakeholder inputs. The data is used to customise the programme design.
learning the theoretical concepts
This phase involves individual e-learning consisting of video lectures and template driven exercises. Each participant learns about systemic business development, organisation development and change management. The theoretical and methodological knowledge is grounded in Biomatrix systems theory which is a comprehensive theory of system organisation. Case studies are provided based on management consulting experience.
redesigning the organisation
Teams of participants are guided to apply the learned concepts to the redesign of the organisation as a learning matrix, a change management design and implementation plans, under consideration of the unique requirements of the organisation. This phase involves action learning in facilitated team sessions.
what will be required?
what will be required from the client organisation?
The programme is delivered in collaboration with the client organisation which:
- selects appropriate programme participants
- participates in programme management
- facilitates quality control of the designs from the perspective of relevance to the organisation (while BiomatrixWeb assumes quality control from an academic, theoretical, methodological and management consulting perspective)
- generates top management and stakeholder support throughout the programme.
what will be required from the programme participant?
Programme participants are expected to:
- complete five e-learning modules
- hand in individual assignments upon completion of each module
- participate in online webinars as well as facilitated team workshops
- contribute to team assignments.
nqf alignment
The scope and presentation of this programme are aligned with the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 8.
admission requirements
Programme participants are selected by the client organisation and should represent senior management or talent earmarked for senior and executive positions. Ideally they have a tertiary education as well as management experience.
Participants who have completed an MBA will benefit especially from the programme as it complements the traditional function-specific management education through developing integrative management knowledge and experience.
certificate
On successful completion of the programme (which includes attending the webinar and team workshops, as well as passing all assignments), participants will receive a certificate of competence in Systemic Organisational Transformation from the University of Stellenbosch.
what is the return on investment?
For the organisation as a whole the programme brings the following benefits:
- It transfers knowledge on how the learning matrix should function in general and specifically within the client organisation, and sets the organisation on a path towards transformation.
- It initiates reflection and debate amongst stakeholders on systemic change, aligning stakeholders and changing organisational culture.
- It engages all parts of the organisation in identifying systemic problems and contributing innovatively to their dissolving.
- It entrenches environmental awareness and rapid responses into all parts of the system to allow them to co-produce on-going development of the organisation in a multi-dimensional and sustainable manner.
- It creates capacity for sustainable change by training systemic change managers who facilitate implementation of the transformation, maintain it and know the principles for managing future change.
For the participants the programme brings the following benefits:
- It provides participants with knowledge and experience relating to the organisation as a whole, which is the perspective of top management.
- It develops new skills relating to change management, both in terms of theory and practical design and facilitation experience.
- It fast-tracks participants’ careers within the organisation.
- Having completed the required phases of the programme and met the prescribed academic standards, each participant is certified as a Systemic Organisational Change Manager, and can be called on to facilitate the implementation of the transformation according to the designs and plans made during the programme. They can also be called on to facilitate other organisational change interventions, such as project design or the redesign of a business or support function.
- If desired by the client organisation, a customised extension of the programme can be negotiated, whereby BiomatrixWeb will coach the change managers and provide further practical training in change facilitation.
when & where
This programme can be presented in South Africa as well as other countries. It is delivered in-house on demand of and in consultation with the client organisation. Programme participants are delegated by the organisation and expected to comply with the timing prescribed by the programme management.
Duration of the programme: 12 months
