Monday, February 8, 2010

Problems with implementing change

As a consultant, I am frequently asked to implement change in large organizations. However, the challenges in implementing change within my current client are huge. Political issues abound. There are way too many other projects that are impacted by our proposed changes, and upwards of 100 stakeholders. All the stakeholders want to know, before anyone else, about what we plan to propose and the impact to them. Tip toeing around all of these stakeholders and keeping them happy is pretty challenging. Also, add to the fact that these stakeholders are all 19 - 20 year veterans of this company, and most of them started work when I was born..
Add also to the mix the amount of push back and need for gaining feedback and soliciting their input.
With M&A accounting and Marketing Strategy, this was one project I didn't need on my plate..

Competitive Strategy

Marc Knez's competitive strategy class did nothing for me. Haphazard and lack of any proper framework made me feel like this was not a class worth taking. At the end of the day, I am not convinced that I got out of this class everything that it promised..

Accounting

Ryan Ball's class on M&A accounting has to be one of the more tougher classes I have taken in Booth. There are way too many 50 page 10K statements to analyze..accounting for goodwill and all the intangible and tangible assets is like looking for a needle in a haystack. I am easily spending upwards of 10 hours per week and feel like I need to spend more..

Overall though, I think it gives a good picture of what goes on in M&A..from a company's strategic point of view, very insightful. Plus, Ryan Ball provides the information in a very step by step framework based manner, which is easy to follow.

Good class, I recommend taking it..