Case Studies: Organizational Assessment: Lexmark
Lexmark Organizational Development & Change

Project Description and Results:

Background: In 2005, due to strong competitive pressures, the head of the Retail Sales division determined that his leadership team needed to assess where their vision for how they would like to function, and how they would like to be perceived in the eyes of the company, the employees, the stockholders, the customers and the competition.  Through the Lexmark Leadership Development Department (within Human Resources) they retained Miller Consultants to plan and facilitate this process. 

Scope of Work: Kathleen Miller worked with the Directors of Retail Sales to establish a baseline of where they stood currently as well as to establish a vision for the future.  They compared their picture of the current situation to their vision for the future and identified gaps. They used the tool kit Organizing the Initiative to carry out this process. 

Next Miller worked with the managers who reported to the Directors to carry out the same exercise.   Subsequently the Miller team analyzed the data and made recommendations to the Directors for closing the gaps.  Over the next months, the Miller team will be working with the Directors and Managers to put together a plan to address the recommendations and move forward in closing the gaps.  

Results:  To date the project has resulted in the identification of organizational culture, leadership, management processes and workforce skill issues that should be addressed to achieve the vision for the future.  Earlier in 2006, the Retail Sales organization went through reorganization.  The former head of the U.S. group became the global director.  Therefore the process has slowed for a couple of months while the new organization is put in place.  However, ultimately the project will take on a more global focus.