OneAdvanced

What struck the PMAs judges about software solutions provider OneAdvanced’s “bold, transformational” change management initiative was its “strong emphasis on human connection, with a focus on people at the heart of the process”, something the organisation kept front and centre when it introduced a new business strategy following a series of acquisitions. 

Previously, the people strategy had focused on cost control and compliance, which resulted in complexity because of the lack of integration of the acquired companies and “underinvestment in our people and talent”. With the appointment of a new CEO in July 2023, the new strategy was introduced, focused instead on simplifying the organisation, fixing root causes of challenges and pivoting the organisation to an accelerated growth trajectory.

At the heart of this was “reviving” the company’s culture, “to unlock the potential of our people and company, while simultaneously improving operational excellence and talent capabilities, and establishing HR as a strategic and commercial function”.

A new people leadership team was introduced and 55 per cent of the organisation’s extended leadership team was replaced. OneAdvanced invested in data infrastructure, launching 200 automated metrics through dashboards that enabled real-time decision making and introduced new cycles for performance and objectives, while a total rewards strategy and roadmap were launched to improve compensation and benefits competitiveness. An L&D function was established and culture champions, inclusion networks, an AI steering committee and ESG groups were introduced. 

The transformation has been dramatic. OneAdvanced’s functional maturity has increased from 1.22 to 2.47 out of 5 and, where previously 61 per cent of employees had no defined goals, more than 95 per cent now have measurable objectives aligned with business priorities. Adoption of the new Skillshub learning platform has been strong, with 51 per cent of employees completing courses outside of mandatory training (above the vendor’s average of 30 per cent) and a new baseline for employee engagement has been achieved, of 76 per cent. 

The PMAs judges described the achievement as one “delivered by a lean people team in partnership with the business, driven from a strong need to fix root causes of challenges and pivot the organisation to an accelerated growth trajectory”.