Biotechnology Company: When Your Process Management Team Has to Be Fast and Good

Business Issue

The Process Management Teams at one of the largest and most successful biotechnology companies in the world faced a multitude of challenges. These teams focus on early development for biologics and small molecule and are cross-functional teams that work together to determine analysis and formulations for research and production. The teams routinely unite individuals with a multitude of differing backgrounds including chemical development, analytics, formulation, fermentation, project management and purification.  Process Management Teams then must work with other internal teams focused on regulatory, clinical, financial and legal matters. The Process Management Teams face conflicts constantly around issues of budgets, deadlines, and delegation.  To be successful each team member must resolve issues with others who do not report to them or belong to their own organization. The challenge is how to beat the competition who are developing similar products and how to work as team in a way that deals well with conflict.

Solution

The head of the department requested that the process management teams improve their ability to manage conflict. In interviews, individual team members identified a need for transparency, alignment, accountability. Accordence delivered the Resolve Your Conflicts workshops to meet the company's challenges. Participants applied Accordence's conflict tools to specific challenges they faced and refined their approach to team members. Skill building sessions focused on Process Management Teams members' ability to resolve their differences more effectively and efficiently.

Result
Process Management teams reported a high degree of satisfaction and their ability to apply the Resolve Your Conflicts methodology to their own situations. The teams were better able to meet project goals and deadlines. Project Managers particularly used an increasing understanding of different styles to enhance team success.  The teams as a whole began to focus not only on the issue at hand, but also how to build relationships with individuals who have a different approach. The teams more quickly surfaced critical issues that impacted team deliverables. Individuals were more able to provide support and reduced their need to escalate and blame.