Case Study:
Nordic IT consultancy

A Life Changing Experience

Context

This case study is particularly illustrative owing to events following the survey, which showed an extremely strong correlation between Level 4 management practices and business success. The consultancy operates in a niche market. Its Business Development Director of a division of 18 people commissioned the 6 Box Leadership survey as part of a bid to improve employee engagement and innovation.

Implementation

High scores of above 60% were registered across the six boxes; the highest was Culture (75%), indicating a good level of Level 4 management practices. One area for improvement was knowledge-sharing. The Managing Director, however, rejected the Action Plan based on the results, and instead instituted more formal reporting structures – a return to Level 3. In response, the Business Development Director resigned to become freelance iconsultant. The unit’s commercial performance started to falter soon after.

Outcome

During the first half of the year, all available consultants had been hired 100% of their time and the division achieved around 20-25% surplus revenue per month. In the second half of the year, the division had three consultants unengaged for months, and there was no more surplus in expected revenue. For the Business Development Director, it was a positive move, as he has become a very successful as an independent consultant to major corporations.