Professor Julie Hodges of Durham University Business School dismantles the myths of organisational change, explains why linear models are no longer fit for purpose, and makes the case for a people-centric approach that actually sticks. Essential reading for leaders navigating transformation in complex organisations.
Despite 83% of companies prioritising innovation, recent research reveals that 52% struggle with unclear innovation strategy—yet only 30% plan to address this fundamental issue. This creates "zombie innovation" where organisations waste resources on products customers don't value. Companies linking business and innovation strategy achieve 5% higher sales from new products, making strategic clarity essential for launch success.
Planning processes guide business direction while execution processes bring plans to life day-to-day. When these boundaries blur, organizations face planning myopia, leadership disengagement, and reactive cultures. Maintaining distinct yet connected processes ensures both strategic foresight and operational excellence.
With 70% of improvement projects failing to deliver planned outcomes, effective change management is critical. Arkaro's "do it with you" approach builds change roadmaps collaboratively, trains leaders as change agents, guides culture transformation, and integrates people, process, and tools to ensure lasting results.
Despite 70% of improvement projects failing, Arkaro's four-step change approach transforms resistance into valuable feedback rather than roadblocks. Through understanding concerns, co-creating solutions, enabling adoption with targeted support, and sustaining momentum, our collaborative methodology builds lasting capabilities while respecting your organisation's unique culture and context.
Despite 70% of change initiatives failing, organisations can leverage Integrated Business Planning (IBP) as a powerful change catalyst. IBP's disciplined meeting cadence creates natural opportunities for embedding change, facilitating cross-functional collaboration, and ensuring strategic initiatives translate into operational reality—all critical components of Arkaro's four-stage change management approach.
In today's complex business environment, technical expertise is essential but insufficient for effective leadership. Leaders rising through technical competence often find themselves underprepared for senior leadership challenges. Arkaro's collaborative approach bridges this leadership skills deficit through practical, personalised development tied to observable outcomes.
The Dunning-Kruger effect—where inexperienced individuals overestimate their abilities while experts underestimate theirs—manifests frequently in business decisions. From misguided acquisitions to underestimated implementation challenges, this cognitive bias can derail projects. Practical strategies include building diverse teams, encouraging psychological safety, and engaging external expertise.