Achieving Successful Organizational Transformation

This book tells how two successful financial services companies, Century Companies of America and CUNA Mutual Insurance, met the challenges of a changing marketplace by tranforming themselves through joining forces. Cowritten by Century Companies' CEO, the book describes how the boards and executives of the two companies reached the conclusion that affiliation with another company was the best strategy, how they selected each other as partners, how they accomplished the integration of the two organizations, the challenges they faced in doing so, and the lessons learned in the process. Human issues, not technical ones, were the most important in determining the success of organizational transformation, as were the early identification of cultural differences and the development of strategies to integrate those differences. The tumultuous changes that took place in the financial services industry in the early 1980s caused both companies to realize that they needed to undertake substantially different strategies than they had previously utilized. Cowritten by Century Companies' CEO, the book describes how the boards and executives of the two companies reached the conclusion that affiliation with another company was the best strategy, how they selected each other as partners, how they accomplished the integration of the two organizations, the challenges they faced in doing so, and the lessons learned in the process.

Table of Contents:
An Overview Human Issues in Organizational Change Company Histories and Pre-Affiliation Cultures Structural Change in the Industry Origins of the Affiliation The Evolution of the Affiliation Forms of Integration in the Affiliation Continuing Integration Lessons Learned Index

About the Author :
DAVID A. WHITSETT is Professor of Psychology at the University of Northern Iowa. His previous books include From Management Theory to Business Sense and Scenarios of Change (Praeger, 1989). IRVING R. BURLING is the recently retired president and chief executive officer of Century Companies of America.

Review :
." . . an important subject, and should be must reading for any CEO who is contemplating mergers, joint ventures, or other amalgamations."-William E. Kingsley executive vice president, Public Relations American Council of Life Insurance ." . . Although each merger is different with individual sets of circumstances, nevertheless there is much that can be learned and many problems could be avoided if those involved were to study this detailed description."-Lynn G. Merritt president and CEO, LOMA ." . . David Whitsett and Irving Burling have done a masterful job of detailing the necessary steps for the successful transformation of two companies. At every step of the process they first considered the human challenges to be met before making a move, and continued to monitor them throughout the process. Achieving Successful Organizational Transformation is must reading for anyone attempting to alter corporate strategy in an effort to better position their company in today's super-competitive environment."- Jack E. Bobo CLU, FLMI, retired CEO National Association of Life Underwriters "This book captures the essence of one of the most unique corporate restructurings ever consummated in the insurance industry and provides insights into why it succeeded and how it could have been improved. . . ."- Phillip A. Turberg, managing director The Firemark Group "This stimulating and incisive book cuts to the heart of how to successfully lead and manage a successful organizational transformation. Good stuff!"-Joe D. Batten, CPAE chairman, The Batten Group author of Tough-Minded Leadership