Land Title and Survey Authority Change Management Initiative: 2003 - 2005

In May 2003, the British Columbia Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management’s Land Title Branch (LTB) hired IC Possibilities Consulting Inc. to help transform their organization that historically operated according to an industrial model that emphasized production, into a learning organization with a business orientation. The Branch registers ownership of land in British Columbia and is responsible for the accuracy and security of title for all privately held land parcels.

The project goals included:

• Developing measurements and measure the organizational climate within each Land Title Office
• Evaluating and recommend opportunities for empowering employees for decision making
• Involving employees in the development of organizational/business process solutions to enhance land title program delivery to clients
• Developing with employees, performance and accountability measures for the new organization and,
• Recommending how a client focus, a learning organization and continuous improvement will become a foundation for the new organization; and develop measures to demonstrate how the organization climate has changed and as a component of that assessment, demonstrate client satisfaction improvements.

During the course of the project, every employee was given the opportunity to participate in a two-day collaborative planning session (i.e. Employee Forum) where specific solutions and actions plans were formulated and participants formed working groups to implement these plans. The Steering Committee that was originally formed to oversee the initiative later became the Collaborative Strategic Planning Committee and dealt with the longer term issues that arose out of the ten Employee Forums. Throughout the initiative, we provided coaching services to key managers and the senior management team.

We were subsequently hired for an additional nine month contract to assist the organization as it transformed from a ministry branch of government to an authority. This project involved the merger of two separate yet related organizations/cultures (i.e. Land Title Branch and Surveyor General Branch). We were tasked with the responsibility of ensuring two-way respectful and honest communication with employees to clarify issues and provide answers to ensure a smooth transition to the new Authority. We used a combination of facilitated employee information sessions for all staff and an interactive web site where employees could search for answers to their concerns and obtain answers regarding the transition to the Authority. We also guided the collaborative efforts of a cross-section of employees and management in the development of the organization’s first strategic plan.

"I think more by accident than by design, we were able to see a continuum of effort that was put in place through the team building and collaborative planning you initially helped us engage in. Your skilled facilitation helped lay a foundation for the successful transformation of the organization from a government branch to an independent authority. You assisted us in developing processes that kept employees fully informed and allowed them to raise issues in a constructive and cohesive way. All this resulted in the vast majority of our staff electing to join the new Authority when given their choice. We really enjoyed how you and Ed evolved with us through this initiative."

Godfrey Archbold, CEO, British Columbia Land Title and Survey Authority

Senior Management Team Building: November, 2004

We designed and facilitated a two day relational leadership workshop that focused on the question"What leadership strengths do we need, to foster a collaborative learning organization to fulfill our vision?" Participants made commitments to form a stronger base for building their interpersonal relationships and to work towards their common goals. Training included state of the art communication strategies and facilitated practice sessions. Next steps were identified for ensuring participant's new sense of “team” would continue to strengthen and provide a role model for staff.

"The session provided me with a number of inter-rational 'tools' – which are valuable. The session also provided me with 'step by step' breakdowns of various relationship processes. Again very valuable. Finally the session re-affirmed / re-aligned my understanding of psychological foundation on fundamentals."

Jeff Beddoes, Deputy Surveyor General, Land Title & Surveyor Authority

"I think it provided me with tools and ideas to allow me to become a better manager. I think that I better understand the potential impact on others of my manner of relating and communicating."

Ron Lejeune, Assistant Deputy Registrar, Land Title & Surveyor Authority