iCAN Alliance Case Study

Case Study: Building a Stronger Foundation for a Renowned Architecture Firm

The Problem

When iCAN international, the founding member of the iCAN Alliance Network, signed on to create a more harmonious environment at a prominent, 60-year-old architecture firm, the challenge was a difficult one.

This global company specialized in designing resorts, casinos and destinations for some of the biggest names in the hospitality field. Their track record was one of superlatives. Yet there were significant roadblocks to a similarly prosperous future.

The general consensus of the workforce was that the firm’s leadership team, guided by one CEO for 15 years, was inaccessible, stuck in the past and visionless.

The CSI Solution
iCAN began to implement our proven Communication Success™ Initiative (CSI) with the firm.

The basic elements of this program apply to any organization, regardless of industry:

All-Hands Communication Success™ Survey

Interviews with the executive leadership team

Roll Out of the Communication Success™ Course to the entire staff

Employee report-outs to management of discoveries resulting from the course

For the architecture firm, we gathered constituency input, survey results from all staff members worldwide, the collective vision of the firm’s leaders and feedback from each location on how to make the firm more effective, profitable, enjoyable to work for and worthy of long-term employee retention.

Working closely with the board of directors and the executive leadership team, we were able to prioritize and monetize the suggestions, zero in on the highest yield initiatives and build a strategic vision around that body of work.

When the vision was rolled out the following year, people were really pleased to see their own input and contributions in the final product. Everyone felt as though they were co-authors of the new direction.

Almost two years after iCAN began working with the firm, support for the shared vision is thoroughly woven into the company fabric. Evidence of a positive culture shift is accumulating:

• A motivated board of directors has established a forward-thinking five-year vision.
• The location directors and the executive leadership team are communicating effectively.
• The workforce feels a sense of connection and contribution to the direction of the firm, resulting in increased productivity.
• Best of all, the firm surpassed their 2006 revenue projection by over 25%!