TypicalQuestionsandAnswersUsuallyAskedDuringKick-OffMeetings1.Willtheprojectresultinacutbackofstaff?–1Wedon’tknowyet,butthatisapossibility–2Wefacemajorchallengesinthefutureasweattempttogrowandstaycompetitiveinthemarketplace.Thisprojectisapositiveattempttoaddressthosechallengesbybuildingonourcompanies’currentstrengthsandreducinginternalconflictacrosscompanies.Wewanttobeabletomakesmartdecisionstochangeandstreamlineourorganizationaldesignratherthanmakearbitrarypersonnelcuts.–3Mostlikely,itwilleliminateunnecessarywork,conflictorbarriersthatmakeourjobmoredifficult.Thiswillincreaseourefficiencyandallowustofocusoureffortsonservinginternalaswellasexternalcustomersbetter.This,inturn,willallowustocontinueourgrowthratewhileincreasingproductivity.–4OurhopeisthatthenewstructurewillbetterenableDBItofulfillitsmissionandstrategicgoals.2.Howwillareasbeselected?–1ThroughdiscussionswithourpersonnelandbaseduponAndersen’sexperienceonsimilarprojects–2Thegoalistoidentifysignificantopportunitiesforimprovingefficiency.3.Howwillrecommendationsaffectservicetoourclients?–1Thisisaninternaleffortthatshouldbeinvisibletoourclients–2Changesshouldimprovethequalityofourproductsandservicestocustomers,bothinternalandexternal.4.WhatinvolvementandinputwillIhaveintheprocess?–1Remember,thisisourproject.Thisisyourchancetomakechangesandimproveourprocesses.Youshouldfeelthatyouownthischangeprogram.–2Thegoalisultimatelytoeliminatethebarriersthatmakeyourjobmoredifficultortimeconsumingthannecessary.–3AA&Co.willmeetwithvariousindividualstounderstandtheirresponsibilitiesaswellastheirheadaches/barriers.Yourideaswillbethesourceofmostimprovementopportunities.ARTHURANDERSEN&CO,SC2Date:March19,1996Subject:ArthurAndersen&Co.–4Weencourageeachofyoutoquestionthewayweserveourcustomers(bothinternalandexternal)andourbusinessassumptions(e.g.“whydoweproducethisreport?”).Yourinsight,experience,andmostlyimportantly,youropenness,willguaranteethesuccessofthisinitiative.5.Willmyinputbeconfidential?–1Absolutely!Everythingthatisdiscussedwillbeheldinstrictconfidence.6.Howwillthisimpactmyday-to-dayactivities?–1AA&Co.willschedule1-2hourappointmentsandwillattempttominimizethedisruptiontoyourschedule.–2Pleasedoyourbesttoaccommodatethem,buttheywillbeflexibleintheeventthatsomethingurgentarises.–3Intotal,youwillprobablenotbeaskedtospendmorethan4-6hoursoverthecourseofthenextfewmonths.7.Whatwilltheyaskme?–1Theywanttogetanunderstandingofthenatureofyourjob.Allofusprovideserviceeithertotheclientortotheorganization.Theideaistomatchupwhatweactuallydotowhatisactuallyneeded.Thatinvolvesjustaskingquestionsofboththeproducerandtherecipientofthework.8.Whenwillweknowwhatchangesmightoccur?–1Thisprojectrepresentsthefirstphaseofthechangeplan.PhaseIwillgoonthroughtheendofMarch.Subsequentphaseswilladdresstheactualimplementationoftherequiredchanges.
