In early June, Petra Clemens introduced IT’s new Target Operating Model (IT TOM) in a VIBES post. Today we want to tell you about the kick-off event that we held onsite with the whole division.
Under the slogan “More Engagement Greater Achievements,” the MEGA program really took off at the end of last year. The goal of the program is to support the implementation of the first phase of the IT strategy, Horizon 1, and to implement it according to plan – for the year 2023, the focus has been set on “Fix The Basics” topics. An essential part of this was the IT TOM, FI’s new organizational structure. This was successfully implemented on June 1st. It is part of our contribution to fulfilling the corporate vision “North Star 2040”.
The new IT TOM was the first major step in our IT strategy to better position us as IT for the future. Some of the benefits that have resulted are:
• Clear separation between the organizational structure & process organization
• Establishment of a modern matrix organization
• Lower management margins while allowing more time in managing employees
• Better support amongst colleagues/internal IT by enabling knowledge sharing among employees with the same roles and activities
• Creation of expert functions by bundling subject areas – e.g. project portfolio management and IT controlling
• Creation of expert areas and topic related responsibilities to enable a better symbiosis between current and future projects and to exploit synergy effects within IT
As a prelude to the new IT TOM, there was a big kick-off event one day earlier, on Wednesday, May 31st 2023, at Nagelsweg in Hamburg. The aim of the kick-off event was to introduce the new IT TOM and the new organizational chart and to give employees the opportunity to get to know each other in advance or simply to get in touch with old colleagues or newbies.
The kick-off day started with the usual (chaotic) remaining work that belongs to such a big event: Moving bar tables and chairs, buying and refrigerating soft drinks, hiding goodie bags in various rooms, making frantic phone calls to a muffin supplier, checking paper printouts for accuracy and completeness, and going over the day’s schedule for the umpteenth time. Fortunately, everything was done in time, so that even before the event started at 9:30 a.m., the first participants could gain admission to the conference room.
The kick-off day started with the usual (chaotic) remaining work that belongs to such a big event: Moving bar tables and chairs, buying and refrigerating soft drinks, hiding goodie bags in various rooms, making frantic phone calls to a muffin supplier, checking paper printouts for accuracy and completeness, and going over the day’s schedule for the umpteenth time. Fortunately, everything was done in time, so that even before the event started at 9:30 a.m., the first participants could gain admission to the conference room.
Petra Clemens and Mark Stevenson warmly welcomed the participants and set the mood for the day together. Mark highlighted the importance of the IT strategy, while Petra illustrated the successful journey towards the new organizational structure and its importance for the company and its employees, as well as providing an outlook for the months ahead.
„VTG gains a “state of the art IT” with its new structure and strategy.“
After the welcome speeches, under the leadership of their future department heads, the employees headed off for so-called breakout sessions. There, they were given important organizational information associated with the new organizational structure. For example, the new team leads were officially announced, the transfer of employees to other department or new hires were announced, and the new roles of the employees were confirmed. Before heading to their future teams for more breakout sessions, all employees received personalized goodie bags.
The team breakout sessions were designed as a teambuilding exercise and generated a number of creative ideas, much to everyone’s delight. Their results created a good and lighthearted atmosphere at the final team presentation session. The team stories told, the team spirit animals painted, the team names, mottos and word games developed, as well as the team pictures taken will certainly be remembered by many participants for a long time to come.
„That was a big milestone and we’re only getting started now: We’re going to show customers as well as employees the benefits of Change!“
In view of all the positive feedback and encouragement, the MEGA program team concludes: “The day and the kick-off event were a complete success!”
We would like to express our gratitude for the many helping hands that led to this “mega” result. Many thanks to the front desk (especially Bernd Powilleit), Raika Beling, Svenya Vaid, Thea Zeller and Angelina Schott!
„A thoroughly successful event to celebrate the implementation of the new organizational structure. As a newbie, it was a great opportunity to get to know my new colleagues before my first day at work. I noticed a lot of positive energy and look forward to supporting the upcoming changes in the future.“
The implementation of the new organizational structure is not the end of the story, but rather the beginning of the change. The next big goal is to improve our IT through focusing on the process organization. Currently, we are already working on the planned new “Product Teams”, the relaunch of our IT Business Partner concept and IT Inhouse Consulting and many other exciting topics. We will actively involve you in the conceptual design, processing and implementation and look forward to your feedback and support.
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