Setting the Transformation Game Plan
Transforming a business, brand or an innovation is a challenging and multifaceted journey. Taking that step to the next level involves several phases as you enter new terrain. Comprehensively planning, preparing, and executing a transformation journey entails these steps, whether you are thinking in terms of as an individual or as a corporate entity. One must also take into account a changing world of various economic and societal disruptions.
As noted by Trexcelerator, in its article “Five Key Phases of a Successful Business Transformation Journey,” “Transformation journeys typically follow five distinct phases: envision, explore, prepare, execute, and accelerate.” If conducted thoroughly, the company notes, where all relevant aspects are considered and integrated in each step of the journey, it will minimize the risk of failure, accelerate the engagement and transition of the journey, and increase the measure of success. Trexcelerator further outlines the key phases:
- Envision – defining the purpose of your transformation. Vision statements are used to help enterprises communicate their fundamental purpose and goals to stakeholders. By creating an appealing image of an aspirational future, compelling vision statements inspire action and provide guidance and direction.
- Explore – laying out the transformation strategy. Once you know where you are headed, it is important to explore the building blocks of your transformation initiative. Consider all areas of action within the context of their dynamic environments. Moreover, uncover and evaluate the mutual interdependencies among the various building blocks.
- Prepare – elaborating the transformation approach and roadmap. Strategy without execution is hallucination. And execution without preparation is hyperactivity. The preparation phase is the transformation journey’s key component that ensures that the desired changes are implemented effectively and efficiently—or not.
- Execute – integrating strategy with reality. As soon as you’ve concluded your preparation and have defined your transformation roadmap, you are ready to go. Now change management will become the name of the game: educating and enabling your organization will be central to implementing and enforcing the necessary changes.
- Accelerate – iterate, learn, pivot, and repeat. So, you’ve got your transformation journey well-planned and successfully kicked-off? Good. Now make sure that you’re not losing ground or get stuck. Modern organizational models embrace change and account for it by implementing continuous inspect and adapt cycles. It is important that you are not doing so on operational levels only. Set a visible example by transparently inspecting and adapting at the top level of management. Make sure to regularly review all relevant areas of action and integrate the entire C-level leadership team in doing so.
Join The Transformation Journey
At FEI25, Christian Saclier, VP Design Innovation at PepsiCo, will hold a session on the “Evolution of The New: A Transformation Journey.”
At FEI 2024, Saclier painted a vivid picture of PepsiCo’s innovation landscape—one characterized by cross-functional collaboration, a commitment to sustainability, and an embrace of technological advancements. His insights emphasized that innovation is a journey requiring agility, creativity, and a deep understanding of consumer needs while building on the already strong interdisciplinary capability muscle. With AI and technology as powerful allies, Saclier envisioned a future where companies like PepsiCo can achieve transformation, fostering growth and positive impact through portfolio evolution on a global scale.
The FEI 2025 session is the next step in that message, sharing how transformation is now being achieved and The New is being realized. Become an expert in identifying, unpacking and communicating The New, while embarking and engaging stakeholders on every step of the journey at the onset, throughout the process, through to fruition.
Staying On Track With a Structured Approach
Like many innovation transformation formulas, there is not just one way of doing things on the path towards The New. There could be many roadmaps to successful growth. Certainly, there are structured frameworks and methodologies to keep the ship steering straight, and to guide innovation team efforts. But to realize The New, it also takes embracing change.
As Trexcelerator notes, “Modern organizational models embrace change and account for it by implementing continuous inspect and adapt cycles… Does the integration of principles and practices ensure that all relevant areas of action are addressed and developed comprehensively? Navigating your transformation journey with a structured, coordinated approach will help ensure you and your business transition successfully.”
