Challenge

At the beginning of the third term of the Beattie Government in Queensland, Australia, the Premier requested the Minister and Director-General for the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) fundamentally refocus and transform the agency. This involved changing the Vision and Mission of the department to become a key economic agency with the Vision of “profitable and renewable primary industries”. The changes introduced were the most far reaching since 1887, and continue today.

Solutions

Over the course of a four-year partnership, we advanced a multi-phase journey of strategic change and cultural transformation at Queensland DPI&F.

Specifically, the process enabled the organisation to consolidate its ambitious Vision for “profitable and renewable Primary Industries”; engage some 4,500 employees in the change journey; and align the top 100 leadership to the Vision and strategy.

Outcomes

The engagement process was an outstanding success, with results indicating that 99% of employees have since engaged with the organisation’s new strategic direction. Already high levels of commitment have further increased, with over 80% of employees committed to both the DPI&F vision and the change process.

The leadership alignment process has revealed outstanding results across the top layers of the organisation. A recent remeasure of Leadership Impact™ for the top 100 executives showed significant constructive increases across all major dimensions; a very significant achievement within the current context.

The success of the DPI&F change initiative also resulted in a nomination for the prestigious Queensland Government Premier’s Awards process.