Case Studies

Janet possesses exceptional insight and expertise managing diverse challenges in a changing industry. From cultivating consensus and collaboration to integrating diverse operations, perspectives, skill sets and cultures, her track record of success is clear. Consider these cases:

Position for Success with Emerging Technology
Digital Asset Management Implementation
Building High Performance Collaborative Teams
Transforming Operations – Digital to Analog
Integrating Diverse Constituencies

Position for Success with Emerging Technology

The Challenge – Recognizing the changing nature of the print and communications industries, a mid-size printer decided to embrace emerging technologies to position the company for continued success in a challenging business environment. An affiliated company was formed requiring the implementation and marketing of an entirely new range of products and services.

The Solution – An array of new technologies and capabilities were implemented, and a business development initiative was created that would capture the leading edge of emerging markets. Variable data outputs, digital on-demand printing, web-based communication portals and full-service traditional printing capabilities were integrated to leverage new business. With the pieces in place, a marketing plan was created, which included a new corporate identity, positioning, branding, promotional plan and sales support system.

The Results – While the new initiative was rolled out in a measure fashion to control workflow, the company still enjoyed 100% growth in year one. Continued increases of high magnitudes are expected for the foreseeable future. Back to Top

Digital Asset Management Implementation

The Challenge – One of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies maintained an immense inventory of images and graphics utilized in a diverse range of applications, from advertising to packaging. As is common in such a large, complex operation, these assets resided in many different formats, areas and custodies. No effective system existed to manage, catalog and gain maximum ROI from these valuable assets. A powerful, integrated system was requested from RR Donnelley.

The Solution – The answer for this company’s need was clearly a customized Digital Asset Management system. We designed, developed and implemented a cutting-edge data solution that compiled, scanned, filed, cataloged, tagged and managed these thousands of asset in one place. A multi-access user interface made it possible to quickly browse, find, access, utilize and update images and graphics.

The Results – In addition to making these assets instantly accessible to all users, our solution eliminated redundancy, reduced new image acquisitions, increase the ROI of existing assets and saved the company millions of dollars annually. Back to Top

Building High Performance Collaborative Teams

The Challenge – Rapid transformation of the printing industry has created perpetual change and frequent restructuring of its companies. As a result, RR Donnelley’s premedia operations evolved into a collection of discrete, self-directed units in multiple disciplines, proximities and cultures. While many of these operations individually set the industry standard, they lacked the necessary synergies to attain emerging corporate goals. Particular challenges were conflicting cultures and attitudes, aversion to adapting outside innovations and the inability to envision common solutions that could satisfy everyone’s unique needs.

The Solution – Through collaborative leadership, we restructured the eastern division to assimilate an array of diverse organizations, including a 250-person hi-tech operation, a 70-person mid-size production unit, a boutique photo studio serving Manhattan’s exclusive high fashion industry, multiple facilities management satellites and more. We built an inclusive culture that motivated the most intellectually structured IT professionals and the most creatively independent artists and innovators. The open dialog and exchange we utilized led to synergistic thinking, common goals and creative solutions to individual needs.

The Results – Bringing such a rich and diverse group together definitely produced a whole far greater than the sum of the parts. We were able to retain creative thinking and flexibility, while gaining team players who collaborated on the things that matter most – like creating effective end-to-end client solutions and eliminating inefficient redundancies. The bottom-line benefits included enhanced productivity, greater quality and significant financial improvement for both our company and its customers. Back to Top

Transforming Operations - Analog to Digital

The Challenge – As a highly respected, 100-year-old, $70 million book and journal manufacturer, Edwards Brothers, Inc., possessed a culture of quality, tradition and established production methods. Insightful leadership of the company recognized that rapidly emerging digital technology would soon render tried-and-true analog processes uncompetitive, if not obsolete. This major transition was a formidable challenge.

The Solution – Converting the company to digital technology required the fundamental transformation of a deeply engrained culture. The first step was to develop a plan (involving key staff to create buy-in), which addressed all aspects of the transition. We then proceeded with technical research, procurement, negotiation, acquisition and implementation of digital prepress technology. Key success factors were effective process design, comprehensive staff education and training, elevated customer service and education, and continuous process improvement. As one of the first in the industry to make this transition, we championed digital prepress technology to thousands of customers, prospects and others utilizing educational seminars which we delivered across the country.

The Results – Being an early adopter of this technology provided many benefits to Edwards Brothers and its customers. In addition to revolutionizing our capabilities, it significantly improved productivity, reduced cycle time and saved millions of dollars in cost. Combined with our national visibility, it also greatly enhanced our competitive position. Back to Top

Integrating Diverse Constituencies

The Challenge – As part of RR Donnelley’s strategic realignment of premedia operations, the decision was made to close a medium-sized ($8 million) facility in Lynchburg, Virginia, and integrate its work into the much larger ($32 million) Lancaster Premedia Center, in Lancaster, PA. Among the many challenges posed by this action were the strong southern/northern cultural differences, inconsistent lexicons, varied work processes and procedures, differing paces of work and conflicting productivity expectations. Assimilation of the Lynchburg employees and clients into the new environment added further complexity.

The Solution – The first step in effectively integrating Lynchburg into Lancaster was to break down barriers, build trust and achieve cooperation among staff from both operations. This was accomplished by bringing everyone involved to the realization that their goals were the same and that their differences were superficial. Both were highly profitable operations, with common work activities, customer needs and desired outcomes. The key was a collaborative, consensus-building approach.