Reference Case

Performance Pulse Transformation

Uniting 5 R&D teams under one strategic umbrella using GenAI, Storytelling, and Gamification to drive bottom-up ownership.

Client Profile

Global Food & Beverage Leader

Leader in their industry seeking transformative innovation.

Objectives

  • Unite 5 distinct R&D teams under one strategic umbrella
  • Shift from top-down strategy to bottom-up ownership
  • Achieve high engagement and retention of strategic goals

Key Outcomes

  • 75% team participation in strategy refinement
  • Full alignment of 5 R&D teams with clear accountability
  • High engagement scores (8.7/10) and clarity ratings (9.1/10)

The Innovation Journey

1

1. Set Target

Targeted full alignment of 150+ R&D staff across 5 countries, aiming for a 90% 'Strategic Clarity' score on the annual employee survey.

2

2. Research

Held 6 'Listening Sessions' in key hubs (Dublin services & Manchester labs) to understand why previous strategies had failed to stick.

3

3. Extract Insights

Diagnosed 'Strategy Fatigue': Employees felt disconnected from abstract goals. We needed a narrative format, not another PowerPoint.

4

4. Ideate

Brainstormed 20 engagement concepts, selecting 'Performance Pulse': A 12-month program wrapped in a 'Back to the Future' cinematic theme.

5

5. Form Teams

Recruited 10 'Pulse Ambassadors' from junior levels to co-design the content, ensuring it spoke the language of the lab bench, not the boardroom.

6

6. Investigate

Piloted the 'Scavenger Hunt' game mechanics with a focus group of 20, refining the 'XP Points' system to ensure it rewarded collaboration.

7

7. Fund

Leadership greenlit the full program, funding a high-production kickoff event and a digital app that drove a 25-point jump in engagement scores.

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