Case Study - Team Building at AstraZeneca
Team Building is one of the many solutions we have provided for our customers. Here we take a look at how the international pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca benefited from our approach.
The Issue
AstraZeneca is a major international pharmaceutical company.
The Submission Management Group in AstraZeneca Regulatory Affairs, is located across three countries, Sweden, USA and the UK. Personnel in each of the AstraZeneca's locations rarely have the opportunity to interact face-to-face with colleagues from the other two.
Jane Davies, Head of UK Submission Management Group, said:
"Before the team building training began, we at AstraZeneca felt we communicated well with each other. We knew we had our problems, the least of which was the cultural differences that exist between teams in the various countries.
"We decided to undertake team building training but had no idea how to address the deeper issues of understanding, respect and cultural differences when communicating with other colleagues."
The Aim
Jane continued:
"Although staff communicated effectively enough via e-mail, telephone, video links etc., It was becoming clear that we as a group needed to be much more pragmatic in providing our staff with an opportunity to understand the wider significance of communications, not just the method.
"Chalk and talk training simply was not the answer, we needed a method of dealing with this issue that would ensure everyone appreciated the differences between each of the offices as well as the considerable benefits that understanding, better communications and a stronger team would bring to the company.
"We knew we needed to find a company to deliver this team building which shared our values and had both the drive and the imagination to ensure we achieved the results we needed. This is when we discovered Impact Universal Ltd."
The Delivery
"Impact Universal Ltd use drama to communicate messages, but delegates on training sessions were assured that they would not be asked to act during any part of the session."
A short presentation was delivered to set the scene and that asked delegates - What does Team Work mean to you?
After the presentation, all delegates took part in group tasks that involved communicating and problem solving with colleagues.
Another presentation was then shown using nine actors. It demonstrated a company with lots of problems, mainly communication and team building issues which meant the company was not performing efficiently and productively.
The delegates were then split in to three breakout groups, each given part of the fictitious company to focus on.
The facilitator for each group then led a discussion on the scene asking the delegates:
- was it realistic?
- was it believable?
- what are the problems?
- what are the issues?
- what is going wrong?
Utilising the technique of hot-seating and forum theatre, the delegates were able to examine the different perspectives of each member of the team, explore solutions and individual responsibilities, building a stronger working unit.
The delegates then come back together as one large group and showed all three scenes, seeing the difference on their part of the team and to the company as a whole.
The Outcome
"The overall working ethos of the group has changed, with everyone working together more efficiently, effectively with the desire to build a stronger team. A practical, fun day that exceeded expectations".
"Fantastic. Relayed a lot of important issues and dealt with them in a safe environment - humour, interaction, fun!! People responded very well"
"The method of presentation made it fun, dealing with a very important issue"
"The delivery was excellent; the facilitators motivated the groups really well, providing insightful comments.
"I really enjoyed today. It was very though provoking and hopefully people will take their thoughts forward"
"Quality meetings like this would be great to reinitiate these issues so that it stays fresh in the mind of people"
The Benefits
The delegates have seen into what makes a good team, taking ownership and seen what it takes to communicate effectively with each other.
From the comprehensive statistical post evaluation, Submission Management Group are able to identify what issues need exploring on an international and national perspective.
