The DATATECH Blog

July 27, 2010, by Kirk Beatty in response to the discussion on LinkedIn for the group Executive Club..."How Do You Change Corporate Culture?"

     ...I suggest the first step in changing corporate culture is a realization and acceptance that the current organizational culture is in need of a transformation to continue to facilitate and support the organization’s successes, progress, and goals.  Once this criteria takes place, then the organization has to understand the current culture.  After understanding the current culture, the organization can then define its desired strategic direction and the organizational culture that supports that strategy.  Finally, and perhaps the most difficult task in this endeavor, is the behavioral change necessary to support the desired organizational culture.  The behavioral change will involve actions of top management, the selection or hiring practices, and socialization to facilitate employee adaption to the new culture.  Culture change tends to be a lengthy process.  Of course, the actions of top management - what they say, how they behave - will go a long ways in establishing the “new norms” that filter throughout the organization.  While changing an organization’s culture is challenging, it is not impossible.  The bottom line, employees learn culture.

July 7, 2010, by Kirk Beatty in response to the question by William A. Bubenicek on LinkedIn for the group Small Biz Nation..."If a small business wants to form an advisory board...where do they go to get it done??"

     ...I’d recommend first turning to one or two trusted colleagues and leverage their insights and opinions regarding ideas, current challenges, etc. Furthermore, if one finds an advisory board is still the way to proceed, the trusted colleagues can serve as the “dry run” so to speak to work through the process to determine how to actually structure the board and how the board will operate. These trusted colleagues may be the first board members. In addition, as previously referred to, professional/peer networks can be an invaluable tool. Lastly, there are those entrepreneurs who have already experienced many of the challenges pertinent to small businesses who offer their services to those less sure of how to proceed.

July 7, 2010, by Kirk Beatty in response to the question by Rieva Lesonsky on LinkedIn for the group Small Biz Nation..."I’m launching a regular feature here at Small Biz Nation which will look at the various ways entrepreneurs are refreshing their businesses."

     At Datatech we have “refreshed” our offerings during the past year. In one instance we listened to the subtle but growing indications suggesting it was time to split off our division serving the construction industry and Beatty Brothers Trucking now operates as a separate entity. In addition, we have sought to better leverage our IT services and offshore capabilities. However, the refresh that is more in line with this discussion is our Executive & Business Advisory Service. The primary purpose of this offering is to further leverage our MBA knowledge and executive leadership expertise offering services communicating the various subject matter and benefits to persons and organizations with the end result providing the initial wherewithal for the audience to pursue the techniques for the betterment of their market competitiveness and profits. While larger firms can benefit from these services, the smaller firms tend to be the market segment that lacks these expertise in-house, or may be aware of the possibilities but simply don’t have the capacity to leverage these techniques to the extent necessary to benefit their business. That’s where Datatech can assist with workshops to convey the knowledge and teach the techniques, or provide as a consulting service. In addition, as we “refresh” our offerings we can benefit by using our own needs to develop the offerings, thus achieving two objectives – a new offering and the benefits from applying the techniques to our own needs. Thus the take away from this contribution to the discussion is not simply the awareness of Datatech’s Executive & Business Advisory Service, but more the fact that you and/or your firm too may have opportunities to look inside to leverage dormant capabilities that will benefit your business and possibly also serve as a new offering.