The usual reflex when productivity stalls
When productivity problems arise, many companies react predictably: job cuts, process automation, outsourcing. But our data from 15 completed transformation projects paint a different picture.
Up to approx. +30% productivity without a single job cut
On average, our clients were able to increase their productivity by up to approx. 30% — without cutting a single job. The leverage came from reducing friction losses, improving decision quality and strengthening cross-functional collaboration.
Case in point: 480-employee machinery manufacturer, escalation rate 34% → 11%
A concrete example: a machinery manufacturer with 480 employees had an escalation rate of 34% — one issue in three landed on senior management's desk. Targeted VMS (Volitional Management System) training and the introduction of synergy-team structures brought this rate down to 11% within 8 months.
The second effect: freed-up management capacity
The management capacity this freed up was invested in strategic innovation. The result:
- Three new product lines within a year
- €2.3M in additional revenue
- A 28-point rise in employee satisfaction on the eNPS
Value creation instead of cost cutting
What these results have in common: they are based not on cost cutting but on greater value creation. The company's IKM score rose from 41 to 67 — a clear indicator of sustainable transformation.
The lesson for SMEs
The lesson for SMEs: productivity is not a mechanical issue but a human one. Start with the people — energy, emotion, volition, synergy — and you reap operational and financial results.