WHY IS THERE SUCH A HIGH FAILURE RATE IN BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION TODAY?

The true number of business transformation project failure is underreported. Depending on which research you follow, the figure is between 70% – 80% of business transformation projects end in failure. There is five (5) main causes in business transformation failure are – lack of stakeholder involvement, lack of senior stakeholder support, changing requirement, incomplete requirements and poor planning.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH EXISTING APPROACHES?

Nothing. They are good at the purpose they were designed for, except they are now used for a different purpose, and that is not the original purpose they were designed for. Look at TOGAF® (The Open Group Architecture Framework) for example – it’s a framework for managing ‘technology’ or ‘technology changes’. It is not surprising, it was written by a “technology standards company”. They know and understand technology. What is happening is, TOGAF® is being used in business transformation projects that the ‘framework’ to manage the ‘transformation’, but it only focuses one thing – technology. It doesn’t focus on anything else other than Technology (it almost completely ignores, the other two (2) important aspects of the organisation – People, and Process(es)). It also ignores how to transition the business from the current state, to its desired future state. It effectively put the Technology stakeholders in the drivers set, to dictate to the Business what they think they want and literally throw it over the fence to the Business for them to work out if first it is fit for purpose, and then how to use and implement it.

HOW DOES HOBA® SOLVE THE PROBLEM IN BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION TODAY?

HOBA® solves the 70% failure rate in business transformation problem by addressing the causes that problem in the first place – by putting the Business back into control, to take control back from Technology and into their own hands, using a structured process and framework that was developed WITH the Business, BY the Business, to be USED and OWNED by the Business, putting the control back into their own hands.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION PROJECTS AND HOW DOES HOBA® HELP?

The biggest problem with business transformation projects is firstly the name. “Business Transformation” is incorrectly called or referred to as “Digital Transformation”. ‘Digital Transformation’ is a misnomer, it is not ‘digital’ per se that is ‘transforming’, it is the ‘Business’ that is transforming, and how it does or is doing that in this period of time is via ‘digital technologies’ (if ‘technology’ isn’t already digital, what were they before?). What this intentional confusion in the marketplace is causing, is it causes is an incorrect bias and focus on the ‘technology aspect’ only of the transformation, which by doing so completely ignores the Business aspects – that’s the Business Operations Stakeholders and their concerns, and the Processes those stakeholders carry out. HOBA® helps by putting the Business back in to control, to be very clear and structured with what is the Vision, Strategy, Objectives and Measures, what stakeholders are involved and need to be involved in the transformation and their decision making authority, the process to manage those decisions, scope and risks; what are the problems they want to address or opportunities they want to take advantage of; what benefits they want to realise from the transformation and when; what the future or Target Operating Model (TOM) needs to look like to achieve their Vision and Strategic Objectives and business benefits, and how and when will the changes be implemented. Everything and nothing more, only doing what needs to be done, to transform the business, not doing what is happening in the marketplace today and that is ‘creating reams and reams of colourful models and diagrams, that while beautiful, are in reality just “interesting but (sadly) useless”.

WHAT IS THE DESIGN PROCESS?

The Design Process is the 6-Step process used to implement HOBA® and manage the transformation from the very start, to the very end, implementation.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION IN THE MARKETPLACE?

The biggest misconception in the marketplace today with business transformation is that Clients are led to believe that they need ‘reams and reams’ of pretty colourful presentations to transform your business. This is a fallacy. This only creates expensive shelf-ware. What those ‘pretty presentations’ are designed for is to enable the transformation project to keep moving toward its end goal, transforming the Business. What the Clients are led to believe is those ‘pretty presentations are the actual goal of the project, and often celebrated and hang up on the project office wall with great bravado as if they were the goal of the transformation itself! What those ‘pretty presentations’ actually need to be is two (2) things – first, is they need to be understandable, and written in a language that the Business understands, so first they can understand what it and they mean, and then they can agree to it. Then second, then they need to be useful. A lot of Consultants and Consultancy’s wanting to impress their clients with great marketing, pretty presentations and long list of impressive acronyms and latest “it” words, but this just confuses the Client. What happens is the Consultants will present their ‘ideas’ (because that’s what they are, they have had one meeting with the Client, interpreted that into their own words and perspectives, and come back to them several weeks and months later, having not consulted with them through the process, thinking ‘they know their Clients business best (they don’t, the Client does!) and play back their 300+ page power-point presentation that looks impressive), they present it to the Client, the Client has no idea what it means or says (its written in a foreign language, literally), due to the time it’s taken, and the money it has cost at that point, the Client agrees to it in the room, then walks out the room, and completely ignores everything the Consultant(s) said. The transformation goes nowhere. HOBA® solves that problem, refer to the first question above.

HOBA® is trusted by the UK Government, FTSE-100 companies and start-ups to both set up, and also turnaround their failing transformations. HOBA® is used by thousands around to transform their business, and was made public for the first time in late 2018, after over 10+ years in use with private clients, published in The Business Transformation Playbook – How to Implement Your Organisations Target Operating Model (TOM) and Achieve a Zero-Percent Failure Rate Using the 6-Step Agile Framework’, reaching bestseller on Amazon in 6-categories including Project Management and Consulting, and made it onto the Best Business Strategy eBook List of All Time by BookAuthority, at no.30 (March 2021). See News for details.

CAN I READ A PREVIEW OF THE BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION PLAYBOOK?

Yes, you can download a FREE preview to The Business Transformation Playbook here.

Essential Skills for Effective Business Transformation: A Comprehensive Guide

By Heath Gascoigne
June 13, 2024
Business Transformation, Enterprise Architecture
Post Views: 599

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In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the ability to successfully manage and implement business transformation is a critical competency for modern enterprises. Yet, despite its importance, a staggering 70% of business transformations fail. Why? The primary reason is a lack of necessary skills and competencies among those leading these efforts.

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the essential skills required for successful business transformation. These skills, when properly applied, can help you join the top 30% of organizations that achieve transformation success. By understanding and mastering these competencies, you can avoid common pitfalls, drive innovation, and deliver exceptional outcomes for your organization.

To facilitate your learning journey, we’ve structured this blog post with clear sections, each detailing a specific aspect of business transformation skills. Below, you’ll find a table of contents with hyperlinks to each section, making it easy to navigate and find the information most relevant to you.

Heres what we’ll cover (click the links to skip to the section below):

NB – Click to expand images 📸

Why Do Most Business Transformations Sink Like a Stone?

The modern business landscape is as turbulent as it is exciting. With digital innovation continually reshaping industries, organizations large and small are pushed to adapt or risk becoming obsolete.

Yet, despite the high stakes, a staggering 70% of business transformation projects are unsuccessful. But why is this the case, and more importantly, how can your organization break this pattern of failure?

The Misguided Route to Transformation

Business transformations fail predominantly because they follow outdated models that don’t address the core needs of modern businesses.

They often lack focus on the essential skills required for transformation, not just at the level of technology, but at the strategic and human levels as well.

Many organizations repeat the same mistakes, expecting different results—a classic sign of insanity, as the old adage goes.

Introducing a New Perspective: The HOBA Method

Our approach, HOBA (House of Business Architecture), breaks away from these conventional, ineffective methods.

It provides a strategic framework that integrates comprehensive skill sets into your transformation initiatives.

These aren’t just any skills; they’re precisely the ones needed to elevate your business transformation success rates from the dismal average to outstanding.

Dive into the Five Core Competencies of a Successful Business Transformator

Technical Skills - Essential for gathering, analyzing, and distributing information that influences stakeholder decisions across the board.
Business Skills - Transform data into actionable insights that align with your strategic goals, ensuring that every step taken is a step towards success.
People Skills - The backbone of any transformation, they ensure that the individuals who make up your organization are ready and willing to adopt new processes and technologies.
Leadership Skills: o Crucial for steering the organization through the transformation journey, ensuring that every project component aligns with the overall strategic vision.
Strategic Problem-Solving: o This goes beyond mere troubleshooting; it involves anticipating problems before they arise and seamlessly integrating solutions into the organisational fabric.

Realizing Transformation Beyond the Boardroom

Transformation isn’t just about adopting new technologies or methodologies. It’s about fundamentally rethinking how your organization operates—from the C-suite to the shop floor. It’s about ensuring that every member of your team is not just a bystander but an active participant in this journey.

Let's Talk About Results, Not Just Plans

Too many transformations focus on theoretical frameworks without actionable outcomes. HOBA is different. It focuses on practical, tangible results that you can see and measure. It’s about making sure that the changes you implement are sustainable, beneficial, and, most importantly, effectively managed and executed.

Why Settle for the 70% When You Can Be Among the 30%?

If you’re tired of transformations that lead nowhere except to increased costs and frustration, it’s time to try something that actually works. Don’t be part of the statistic that laments what could have been. Be part of the success story that others will want to emulate.

DOWNLOAD THE BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION TOOLKIT E-BOOK!

Download the e-book and gain the skills to lead your transformation using the HOBA® Business Transformation Toolkit 👉

"Avoiding the common pitfalls of business transformation requires more than just following a framework; it demands a deep understanding of data-driven decision making and effective leadership. Equip yourself with these skills to navigate complexity and achieve remarkable outcomes. 📊💼 #TransformationSuccess #DataDriven #LeadershipSkills"💼🌟

Heath Gascoigne Tweet

Take Action Now!

Are you ready to transform your business effectively? Want to build a robust internal transformation capability? Or perhaps you need expert guidance to realign your current strategies? Contact us today for a discovery call, or sign up for our newsletter to stay ahead in the game. Don’t just manage your business transformation—lead it and succeed.

Transform your business with HOBA. Be the change, lead the change, and make the change work. Visit our website to learn more about our transformation solutions and training programs. Let’s make business transformation a success story together.

Looking for the Upskill and Join the Top 30%? Everything you just read in this post is covered in here plus so much more! 👉

💡 In today's digital age, mastering the right business transformation skills is the key to joining the top 30% of successful enterprises. Strategic thinking, change management, and technology proficiency are not just buzzwords—they're essential competencies for driving innovation and sustainable growth. 🚀🔧 #BusinessTransformation #Leadership #DigitalAge 💼🌟

Heath Gascoigne Tweet

Conclusion

Successfully managing and implementing business transformation is no small feat. As we have explored in this guide, the key to joining the top 30% of successful transformations lies in mastering essential skills and competencies. By focusing on strategic thinking, change management, technology proficiency, data-driven decision making, and leadership and communication, you can effectively navigate the complexities of business transformation and drive significant, positive change within your organization.

Understanding these competencies is just the beginning. Applying them proportionately and appropriately to your unique business context is what truly sets successful transformations apart from those that fail. Avoiding common pitfalls and continuously developing these skills will help ensure that your transformation efforts are impactful and sustainable.

To learn more about HOBA Tech and how we can help your organization achieve similar success, visit our website or contact us to discuss how we can support your business transformation journey. Let’s work together to create a sustainable and efficient future.

For more details on our services and success stories, check out our case studies and blog.

Key Takeaways:

Business transformation requires a blend of strategic and practical skills.
Mastery of five core competencies can significantly increase the success rate.
Continuous learning and adaptation are crucial in today’s fast-paced digital landscape.

Additional Resources and Contact:

Ready to transform your business? Learn more about how HOBA Tech can support your business transformation journey. Whether you need expert advice, hands-on support, or a comprehensive training program, we’re here to help.

Stay ahead of the curve and ensure your business transformation efforts are successful by leveraging the right skills and support. Reach out and contact us today to start your journey towards a more innovative and resilient future.

Thank you for reading this!

Sincerely,

Heath Gascoigne

P.S. If you want to join our Business Transformator community of 2,000+ like-minded Business Transformators, join the community on the Business Transformator Facebook Group here.

P.P.S. If you want to learn more about business transformation, check out The Business Transformation Playbook here.

For more information, visit https://www.hoba.tech

Heath Gascoigne

Hi, I'm Heath, the founder of HOBA TECH and host of The Business Transformation Podcast. I help Business Transformation Consultants, Business Designers and Business Architects transform their and their clients' business and join the 30% club that succeed. Join me on this journey.

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