Instructional design/BADL/Business Challenges

Welcome to BDAL Introduction to BDAL Challenges Organizational Culture BDAL Participants Design Situation Analysis

Challenge Characteristics

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BDAL seeks change in the business and change in the individual. Through participation in Learning Sets and Business Challenge Teams, individuals address individual, team, and organizational development needs.

Business challenges originate with and are sponsored by senior leadership. The complex nature of the business challenges, create an environment where participants existing mental models are challenged and new knowledge is incorporated. The real-world experience builds individual, team, and organizational capabilities.

Business Challenges

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Business challenges are complex issues without a clear and obvious solution that force senior leaders to question pre-existing values, beliefs and assumptions. By nature of their complexity, business challenges are usually strategic in nature.

Business Challenge Attributes
Appropriate Inappropriate
Problems for which no one knows the solution     Problems for which regular problem-solving techniques would find an acceptable answer
Problems that could have an impact on your business results Problems that are immaterial to business results in the short term
Problems no one know how to solve, but about which many people my have an opinion Problems described by a clear and simple problem statement
Problems where there is no obvious right or wrong way to proceed Problems where the degree of uncertainty associated with the problem is limited
Problems that present many potential ways forward Are where the root causes of the problem are known or discoverable
Problems where inaction is not an option and resistance to change is probable Problems that can be solved through systematic analysis
Problems originating from disruptive change in the marketplace Problems where previous experience and practice have been successful
Problems that threaten the existing business model Problems that can be objectively evaluated

Examples of Business Challenges

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Challenge: How to stimulate innovation
Appropriate for BDAL? Yes.
Why?
  • Involves multiple stakeholders and processes that interact together
  • No right solution
  • Could have impact on larger business initiatives
Challenge: How to reduce reduce production costs
Appropriate for BDAL? No.
Why?
  • Could be solved with regular problem-solving techniques
  • Low degree of uncertainty
  • Can be objectively evaluated

Personal Challenges

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Personal Challenges – are daily dilemmas, problems or seemingly unresolvable matters especially around leadership and management behaviors in situations characterized by:

  • High levels of internal and external conflict
  • Constrained resources
  • Rapidly changing labor market
  • Rapidly changing technology
Personal Challenge Attributes
Appropriate Inappropriate
Developing skills in leading change     Single discipline training
Developing skills in conflict resolution Learning specific processes
Developing skills in strategy execution Job rotations
Developing skills in managing risk Learning how to improve quality
Developing skills in communicating vision Gaining experience in sales
Developing skills in managing mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures Pursuing a degree

Examples of Personal Challenges

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Challenge: How to weigh alternatives and prioritize
Appropriate for BDAL? Yes.
Why?
  • Could lead to leading change
  • Has elements of strategic execution
Challenge: How to conduct better meetings
Appropriate for BDAL? No.
Why?
  • Is not complex
  • Does not extend to others outside of assigned area

Challenges Quiz

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Business Challenges Quiz

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Before continuing, let's verify that you understand what types of challenges are best for BDAL. Examine the 7 challenges below and choose the 4 challenges that are most appropriate to tackle with BDAL. Check your answers with the feedback given.

1 Legislation

You are an electric utility whose main source of energy is coal. Proposed legislation to introduce a carbon tax threatens to make you uncompetitive with a new start-up using clean technology. The cost of switching to alternative sources of energy would weaken an already overburdened balance sheet. High rates have turned public opinion against you.

2 Manufacturing

You are a manufacturing company that currently relies on a shrinking domestic supply of a precious metal. The only remaining supplier is from China. You have no experience in the global market or how to manage currency risk

3 Backorders

Increases in customer demand have strained production capacity resulting in backorders. Sales data also indicates increases in returns due to minor quality issues. Company maintains a healthy quality control analysis capability.

4 Labor

A low cost foreign competitor has entered your market, threatening your market share. You have new products under development that are three years away from being ready for market. Your current labor contract with a union is about to expire. Half of your workforce is eligible to retire in five years.

5 Recruitment

Your company has been having trouble finding new employees with the skill sets you need. You want to evaluate your benefits package compared to competitors.

6 IT Problems

Your company has been experiencing problems in the performance of its IT systems. Employees have reported numerous problems with computers locking up and poor response times. Internet bandwith seems to be insufficient for your operations.

7 Market change

Your company is a manufacturer of consumer electrics products in a highly competitive market. Sales have been declining for products that have been on the market for more than three years. Products that have been on the market for less than three years have received mixed reviews for not adding new features fast enough. Profit margins in the industry have been declining over the past year.


Now that you understand challenges, you can see if BDAL is right for the Organizational Culture

Welcome to BDAL Introduction to BDAL Challenges Organizational Culture BDAL Participants Design Situation Analysis