Using an E2E (End To End) Approach

by | Sep 18, 2019 | Change Management, Project Management | 0 comments

E2E is shorthand for End to End.  It means a whole of business approach to developing and delivering change in your business. It is also means consciously managing a change from end to end. From idea creation through to that idea becoming a reality and delivering benefits for your business. E2E is a foundational princple in AccomplishBiz’s approach. 

The focus of an E2E approach is broader than the new piece of equipment, IT solution, process change, or product that is going to be delivered.  It is identifying, planning for and managing the end to end (E2E) impact on your business created by a change.

An End to End (E2E) approach considers:

  1. Your customers, staff, executives and board, as well as other stakeholders that can influence the success of your business.
  2. All sections of your business – Front Office, Operations, Customer Service, Finance, ICT, Back Office, etc.

An End to End (E2E) approach also encompasses all the steps in the process. It identifies, plans for and manages the business changes and impacts throughout the change journey:

In a future blog we will discuss each of these steps in more detail.

Some questions to consider when you are using an End to End (E2E) approach are:

  1. How will each step be managed?
  2. What Internal and external resources will be needed? Will internal resources be backfilled?
  3. Who will be involved – staff, customers, other stakeholders?
  4. How will business-as-usual continue whilst going through the change?
  5. How will the people, processes, technology and culture change happen? Big Bang, all the organisation at once, or incrementally, area by area, team by team?

When you use an E2E approach you improve the quality of the change your business selects by considering the impact on all aspects of the organisation.

An E2E approach also improves the cost benefit analysis. It provides a greater understanding of the total cost of making the change, taking into consideration both direct and indirect costs. This cost benefit analysis also includes opportunity costs.

By implementing an E2E approach you increase stakeholder engagement. Your project managers work closely with stakeholders from end to end to address concerns and utilise their invaluable input.  This helps manage stakeholder expectations and identifies potential resistance early.

An important aspect of the E2E approach is risk management. Risk management is improved by considering the transitional risks as well as end-state risks.  Appropriate risk mitigation and contingency measures can be developed as part of the implementation planning process.

Finally, by using an E2E approach the change delivered will be robust. Not only will you have started with the end in mind; you will have considered all that is required of your business to deliver that end goal.

If taking an end to end approach to your next change seems daunting, talk to us about how we can provide the support and resources to manage your next change end to end. 

Does your organisation need to implement a change?

We can provide practical help to define your future, design, and manage the changes required to achieve your future.

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Some of the best ideas for your business’s future may be in the minds of your staff.

But how do you tap into those ideas?

Over the years suggestion boxes in staff kitchens have worked to some extent. But these do not allow ideas to be built upon and expanded. There is limited visibility of suggestions by others in the business.

Staff engaging in the business by collaborating using a future wall.

Use a Future Wall

If you have renovated a house or built a new house you may have created a “mood board” with pictures, cloth swatches, paint samples etc that you might use.

A Future Wall is similar. 

It is a place, physical and/or virtual, where you and your staff post ideas about potential futures for your organisation. Whether it be pictures, articles, quotes, ideas, goals. 

Your Future Wall will be unique just as your business is unique.

No two Future Walls are the same. It will evolve and develop. 

For some businesses it is only used during strategic planning periods. While for others it becomes part of their day to day culture with a constant gathering of ideas to shape the business.

A Future Wall may be used company-wide or just in certain sections of the business.

Why Have a Future Wall?

Future Walls are a fun way to engage with your staff, especially during times of major change or planning.  It’s an opportunity for staff to think about your business creatively.

You might be surprised the talent that you will uncover.  Staff across the business can come together to share ideas and make suggestions that may not be in their “area”. 

This can help break down silos between teams.

A Future Wall can encourage continuous improvement and innovation. You can gather ideas that you and your leadership team may not have thought of. 

How Do You Create a Future Wall?

Your Future Wall can be physical, for example a pinboard/whiteboard in the staff room. Or it can be virtual. There are multiple online tools which can be used as forums. You can also set up a chat space on your intranet. Or you may choose to do both. 

The physical and the virtual Future Wall’s each have their own benefits. 

A physical wall in a location regularly visited by all staff keeps it front of mind. If you have multiple sites, you might have multiple Future Walls, one on each site.

A virtual wall is great for businesses with staff working remotely.  It also provides a place for staff to post materials they find on the internet. 

You might want to have both a physical and a virtual.

Making your Future Wall a success!

The key to the success of your Future Wall is creating excitement for participating and shared ownership of the wall across the organisation. 

  • In the early days this may be achieved with fun competitions. For example, offering movie tickets for the most creative, or most original idea. 
  • Encourage managers to include time at the wall in their team meetings.

  • Set up a team with people from multiple areas and levels of the business to gather and collate the information posted on the wall. This can then be communicated back to everyone.

    For the Future Wall to be sustainable staff need to see that their ideas are being considered and used to shape the future. Again, this can be by leadership stand ups at the wall and leadership communications on how an idea has been adopted.

     

Would you like to encourage your staff to become more engaged in the business and collaborate on how to build into an even better business than it is today? Create a Future Wall.

If you would like help setting up a Future Wall that fits your unique business give the E2E The Change Agency Team a call.

Let's start something new. Say hello.