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Client overviewThe client is an international organization thatdelivers products in the communications and hightech industry. It employs over 100,000 people inmore than 60 countries worldwide.

Business challengeThe client had issued a strategic directive toachieve an ambitious growth target. To achievethis goal, it needed to position itself as anemployer of choice, one at which existingemployees would want to remain and would behighly attractive to potential new employees.

To this end, it initiated a project to fosterinnovation in the workplace and become aleading global employer. It recognized that asubstantial portion of its employees time wasspent working in its offices, communicating withcolleagues, customers or business partners andtherefore set out to create a work environmentthat empowered its employees, optimizedteamwork and collaboration, energized andsupported employee wellbeing. Furthermore, thisenvironment would be underscored by leadingpractices and technologies, aligned to thebusiness strategic objectives. Simultaneously,the client sought to optimize its infrastructuresand offices in order to enhance its efficiency andreduce its costs.

The project encompassed three primary areas ochange:

Real estate. The client wanted to optimizethe use of office space and encourage peopleto work virtually. It envisioned an open-planoffice with only a few isolated areas foremployees who worked with sensitive dataor meetings/conference calls where privacy

was required. Unless justified and approved,employees would no longer have a desk oroffice of their own. Where possible, employewould work virtually and schedule time in thoffice for occasions where face-to-face contawas required.

Mindset. This new way of working wouldrequire a fundamental change in the mindsetof the clients employees.

Technology. The implementation of new ITtools and solutions to enable and encourage

the new way of working envisioned by theclient.The client initiated the project in its officesin The Netherlands by modifying the physicaloffice structures to accommodate the new,flexible way of working. Coinciding with this, infrastructures, processes and tools (for exampMicrosoft Office Communicator) to support acollaborative environment were implemented.

Accenture Helps an International Organization

Successfully Manage a Fundamental Change in theWay its Employees Work

7/31/2019 Accenture Helps an International Organization

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As could be expected, this fundamentalchange to the way of working met withsome resistance. To ensure a successfuluptake of the project on a global scalewith such significant changes to theway in which its employees worked,would be a significant challenge forthe client.

Accenture has a good relationshipwith the client based on the successfuldelivery of prior projects. This, togetherwith its deep global experience andexpertise with large-scale changemanagement initiatives as well as itsproven tools and methodologies madeit a natural choice for the client toteam with in this stage of its journey tobecoming a high-performance business.

How Accenture helpedMany of the clients employees resistedthe new way of working. Some of thisresistance was due to the fundamentalchange in what they were used to andsome was because the employees sawthe exercise as purely one of cost-cutting. They felt that they were forcedto adopt new styles of working andwere concerned that there would be noplace for them at the renovated offices.

The client needed Accentures help toturn this resistance around, effectivelymanaging the change and alleviatingthe employees concerns. The end goalwas to become an employer of choicewith an innovative, flexible workingenvironment that not only maximizedthe effectiveness of its workforce,but also ensured the wellbeing of itsmembers. The client needed to be ableto successfully deploy this new, flexibleway of working to its global operationsin the most effective way. To thisend, Accenture developed a ChangeManagement Toolkit with a changemanagement methodology to guide theclient, its leadership and its employeeson the change journey.

The toolkit, which leverages Accenturesdeep experience and global expertise,includes a number of tools and

templates (for example, handbooks,quick reference guides and how-toguides) to help the various project teamsfacilitate the global deployment of thenew way of working, including reusablepre-, during- and post implementationguidelines and processes. Built in threemonths, the toolkit was developed

in close collaboration with the clientand leading change managementprofessionals from Accenture.

The project management team leveragedthe clients own leadership to ensurethat the change was driven from withinand aligned to the clients overallbusiness strategy. Specific sessions|were organized with smaller groupsto help the employees understandthe ultimate goals of the project andaddress all their concerns. The teamwas flexible to help meet specificconcerns and requirements, ensuringthat all employees were informed,engaged and knew exactly what toexpect from the change.

High performance deliveredCollaborating closely with the client,Accentures change managementexperts developed a comprehensivechange management toolkit in three

months. By implementing this toolkit,the client will be well-equipped for thefuture deployment of the project to itsglobal operations.

Not only is the client firmly positionedto optimize the efficiency of itsreal estate, thereby reducing costsand minimizing its impact on theenvironment, it is also progressingtowards providing a work environmentin which its employees can interact

in the most productive, inspiring andcreative manner.

By teaming with Accenture, the clienthas helped ensure the success of itsstrategic vision while creating a solidfoundation from which to become ahigh-performance business.

About AccentureAccenture is a global managementconsulting, technology servicesand outsourcing company, withapproximately 204,000 people servingclients in more than 120 countries.Combining unparalleled experience,comprehensive capabilities across all

industries and business functions,and extensive research on the worldsmost successful companies, Accenturecollaborates with clients to help thembecome high-performance businessesand governments. The companygenerated net revenues of US$21.6billion for the fiscal year endedAug. 31, 2010. Its home page iswww.accenture.com.