Time for Change

In just over a week, on Monday the third of April to be precise, my current organisation becomes a totally new company, merging with a peer in our industry to create one of, if not the, largest pure-play services company in the world.  This means, for the first time in a very long time, there is no drive or incentive to sell our stuff, coz we do not have any stuff to sell.

Instead, we will be totally agnostic and able to sell the best-of-class for any service.  The detail of this is that the offerings for two organisations have been merged and refined so that we have a single point of view and a (relatively) cohesive go-to-market strategy.

To be honest, having been though several events that were mergers, take-overs or some other similar coming together of two cultures, I know that it is a tricky business.  What I have observed with my own organisation is pretty impressive.  We did a "soft split" at Christmas, become a separate interim entity, we have split off key systems to create our own dedicated versions ahead of go live, and we have managed real estate and individual identities with real dexterity.  In short, it bodes very well for the future; if our organisation can do a "spin off and merge" this well, taking as much care as it has with communications and process changes, then I think we are in for a rosy future.  I genuinely cannot wait for it to start.

I am planning on going to my nearest office for the launch day, which will centre around our new leader ringing the bell on the New York Stock Exchange, to announce the arrival of our new company, and locally there will be cakes and a lot of merchandise.  Our company brand colour is black, so we are also being urged to wear black clothes.  I will let you know in a couple of weeks how it went.

Next week I have three days of training.  I will meet my manager for the first time face-to-face, and I will have a bit of a break from the usual routine to get myself an education.  I am staying away for two nights, which will enable me to socialise with my peers, colleagues and also hopefully my boss.  I really cannot wait.

On the home front, not too much to report, so on that note I wish you a great weekend, and speak next week.