Services of the church

At our recent eMBA class, we had a discussion on a very current topic; religions and the role of the Finnish church.

Basically the common view was that the Finnish evangelic lutheran church is old fashioned and has no clear strategy.

What was missed was a clear positioning; a view on how church really sees homosexuality and women in church and how they want to serve their members. The discussion of gay people has been refreshing, for the church to really clarify who is their target audience what what purposes they serve. They´ve never had any yt-neuvottelu (cooperation negotiations) to bring focus and efficiency.

We invented a new service concept for church at christmas. Instead of packing to a crowded church, why not have a short outdoor ceremony with a few songs, punch, having people go out for a walk but having an easy-to-use religious service.

We also discussed whether religion should be part of education in schools and if they should organize christmas parties. Votes were for and against. I know, christmas parties are nice, but it´s a celebration of the birth of Jesus. Is the role of schools to celebrate religious events? Instead, should or could schools celebrate the end of a school term and find another program for that? Why would schools portray religious agenda if they not have a political agenda? If one role of religion is to educate ethics and behaviour, would there not be other ways of doing this eg philosophy?

I still belong to church. My main reasoning is the goodwill done for less fortunate. But I, too, start questioning the role it could provide taken the opportunities from today´s needs of emotional and physical wellbeing.

Branded generosity

Trendwatching.com published its list of key consumer trends for 2011. On the same list you could spot two very human elements: random acts of kindness, consumers craving for kindness and being surprised in a positive way and emerging genorisity, giving, donating, sharing and sympathizing vs just selling and taking.

In other words, brands are expected to act humble, personal, showing compassion and understanding customers daily challenges. This is nothing new. But my guess is that the deeds expected from companies will no longer be big bursts of sponsorships and donations but they can be small things, generating daily goodwill. They do not need to be just donations but simple gentlemanlike acts towards customers.

Personal experiences from service economy. For the first time in my life I ordered two dresses from two different online stores. The other one was more expensive. Dress was sent as promised and was ok. The other dress was sent also as promised. With the dress came a small branded bag and the dress was on a hanger. I was so surprised.

I guess best branded deeds will be notes and messages from companies in unexpected moments. Monthly newsletters are nowdays normal. But what about personalized messages. Those that you get on birthdays and on special occasions, personalized to your orders and needs. Most companies admire Amazon for being able to track persons purchasing history and being able to make recommendations for customers´s interests. How could you do the same in industrial engineering?

Finnish brand committee´s report for branding Finland was showing similar kinds of elements of showing generosity. The committee proposed various missions for Finns for keeping up and building Finnish brand. One mission was for school children to talk to more quiet classmates. What could be my company´s small deed to providing better happiness to our customers?

Evaluating change process

70% of organizational changes fail. Typically, in change management there is lack of systematic or even basic follow-up.
Naturally prior to change you need to understand what is the need to change. If it´s not broken, don´t fix it. If you change, you need to address the need for change. Misunderstandings come from a thought that change is something negative. To change, you need to evaluate the change, define objectives and approach, then evaluate again.
Typical problems in change are eg resources, motivation, communications, change management and training. Set objectives at beginning of change to follow-up results.
And what are the success factors of change programs? According to PwC´s global research key success factors for transformation programs are:
* outcome-driven process change
* benefits case and transformation strategy
* change management
* organizational alignment
* governance.

Organizational leadership vs dynamics

DeWit and Meyer (2004) describe two dimensions of organizational perspectives: leadership supporting a controlled system creating strategy and implementing it top-down, and dynamics, creating disorganization to achieve strategic renewal. Both dimensions have their value and an organization should consider which perspectives it utilizes in its strategy and operations, or if it can benefit from both - experimenting from new or different ways of working and innovating.

International corporations have grown so big that it is purely impossible to lead purely based on authority and control. Companies are affected by new working methods, new media and generations, who require and impose a less authoritarian way of working. There are demands for new communications tools, virtual collaboration and self management. Time differences and cultures bring new elemnets to having new perspectives.

Sustainability is affecting people´s behaviour and social expectations in respect to travel, production methods and collaboration. New working methods bring cost savings, employee satisfaction and efficiency. It also creates frustration since letting go of the old and learning new is always difficult.

Elements of organizational leadership bring some assets to having a clear direction. It is important however that in a top-down organization strategy is implemented by involving teams in the creation process and encouraging initiative.

Community based business in China

Director William Toh from Chia Tai Group of Companies explained how Chinese business works. One example is a community created around the business. A transportation company might have their own schools, nursery and social activities to form a community among the employees and their families. Building a relationship with the community is key to doing business. Things are bought within and with the community, not as individuals. Even corruption can be addressed to help the communities and the poor.

Director Toh´s bet on successful consumer goods would be in the range of attractive design and products that appeal to groups or societies. I was thinking, could social networks and eCommerce be developed to take advantage of the already existing communities - or rather nurture them? Usage of internet is mostly in pockets. Number of mobile devices is much more significant than number of PC´s. eCommerce in China will grow but main consumption will still be done through retail. Community thinking applies to planning retail. Feeling and touching are important and that can be best experienced physically.

Individualistic brands such as Nike and Apple, luxury fashion brands do well because Chinese community is about comparison. Best for your family.

Regarding b-to-b the set-up is the same. Make sure you have a network of local partners. Make sure you network with Chinese community in your home market. Bring your wife or husband to meetings. Take care of human resources.