Alchemy's visual technology has proven results with hundreds of organizations. The visuals provide the widest impact on results when they are paired with a solid intent to roll-out the message on the maps using story and metaphor. The supporting materials such as learning cards provide the momentum and conversation to cause higher levels of engagement and execution of strategy and business goals.

Here is how some of our client organizations have used our visual technology.

Roche Pharmaceuticals

Alchemy was engaged to re-invigorate the vision for Roche's global team. The key driver of change for the organization was staff awareness of their "Big Picture". Roche runs a pulse survey twice a year asking their people about their communication efforts around key efforts/projects. The "Big Picture" (or vision) scored poorly for many years - of the sample of the organization that was surveyed - randomly selected 15% of their organization - only 45% said they were aware of the "Big Picture".

With Alchemy's visual technology, communications toolkit, consulting and train the trainer, Roche's "Big Picture" gained a lot of momentum!

By May of 2006, just 6 months after the vision map and corresponding strategy was completed, the survey results showed the following:

• "I am aware of the Big Picture". 92% of respondents said they were aware of the Big Picture!

• "I understand the key messages of the Big Picture". 89% said they understood the key messages of the Big Picture.

• "I understand the link between my daily work and the Big Picture". 84% told us they understand the link between their daily work and the Big Picture. (This was among the top 8 scores.)

• Finally, though not a direct question, 91% of staff said they felt the vision of the organization was frequently communicated – which was up 7% since July 2005.

While Alchemy cannot share the actual visuals with other clients or potential clients, Roche's results are solid and their global top team has been encouraging of our technology and continues to engage Alchemy on a regular basis most recently in July to re-invigorate the company's core values.

How They Did It:
We partnered with the communications and top leadership team to craft the vision of the "Big Picture" roll-out. We discussed timing and engagement strategies with business unit leaders, expectations and feedback loops, etc.

Their internal team owned the process and we supported them with the communications toolkits, consulting on the learning card and facilitator guide content and then brought in the key leaders charged with deploying the message for a one day training on how to successfully roll out the "Big Picture".

Urban Advantage

Alchemy is currently working with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, The Denver Botanic Gardens, The Denver Zoo and Denver Public Schools to conduct a feasibility study for an exciting science program for middle school children called Urban Advantage. The Goldman Sachs Foundation is responsible for New York City's success in terms of funding and Denver was chosen as one of 3 additional cities to put the program in place.

The intent of the feasibility study is to create excitement for middle school kids around science, engage families in a more positive way and bring the teacher's experience up to a level where they feel empowered to provide a different learning platform for their kids to learn and do science in such a way that they would want to explore it as a career.

We will conduct a "Summit" on November 13, 2007 with 75 key stakeholders in the city to get their input on the vision and strategies for Urban Advantage.

How They Will Do It:
Alchemy is known for our interactive learning processes, so we have designed a highly interactive day that will elicit the feedback we need to complete our feasibility study. We will have facilitators at "stations" with learning cards asking pointed questions about the vision and strategies for the Urban Advantage program. Participants will interact with portions of the vision and strategy maps throughout the day and we will compile and collect the data from their critical thinking to support our belief in the success of the project.

First Data Corporation

Alchemy was asked to support the human resources team as they managed the change in CEO leadership. We met with over 100 of their senior leaders for several days to lay out the vision for the organization. This was depicted in a vision map with the metaphor of a storm and a fleet of ships filled with top talent sailing in to calm, clear waters. Their new vision statement is shown in the backdrop of a sun shining brightly.

Alchemy created another visual to show the steps the senior leadership laid out for the talent management process.

How They Did It:
Similarly to the Roche project, First Data utilized Alchemy to construct the communications toolkits, consulted with them on the process and trained their team.

October, 2008
Lois Todd
Chief, Business Development; Senior Partner