The Work We Do
Getting It Right: The Strategy
Case Study: Creating an HR Portal Vision
Challenge: As the pharmaceutical division of a global pharmaceuticals company created by a merger, our client focuses on general medicines, as well as specialty medicines.
To integrate the two merged companies, the company embarked on a comprehensive, global ERP deployment with the aim of implementing operational, financial and human resources modules in all affiliates. The goals of the global HRIS project were to:
- Implement world-class HR processes and systems
- Provide HR data in an accurate, timely manner on a global basis
- Speed up HR decision-making processes
- Reduce HR operating costs while upgrading performance and service.
The ERP implementation turned out to be much more complex than originally assumed. As a result, the HR components had been put on hold. Each country's HR organization continued to maintain ownership of its HR processes and systems. The global vision was not becoming a reality; disparate programs and systems remained in place.
The U.S. pharmaceuticals division thought a new approach was necessary.
What We Did: As a step toward developing a new HR service delivery model, a common vision for an HR portal was necessary. The portal was viewed as key to integrating processes and systems in the minds of managers and employees. To begin, the company decided to hold a two-day strategic planning meeting. The meeting goal was to assess company needs regarding the HR portal with an eye to identify and prioritize new and improved capabilities and to develop a high-level strategy and plan for a future HR portal.
LDS worked with the company to gather information and perspectives on the situation, including developing a meeting agenda and creating detailed work session designs. The meeting was held at LDS offices in Morristown, New Jersey. LDS facilitated the meeting, including full group sessions and breakout sessions.
Results: The working team reached agreement on all topics. Meeting outputs and conclusions were:
- An agreed-to list of specific immediate improvements, Release No. 1.
- A list of other features and functionality to be addressed in future releases.
- The importance of alignment between the company's corporate and HR business objectives and portal design and functionality.
- The impact of readiness issues – process change, people skills and technology planning – on portal strategy.
- Longer-term goal of portal enhancing programs.
The client now had a clear plan for moving forward. LDS produced a detailed strategy outline that was used to communicate decisions, build consensus among stakeholders and plan for the next work phase. The global pharmaceutical company viewed this as so significant that that it began to leverage and coordinate findings by the U.S. unit with the corporation's overall global strategy.