Transforming Organizational Structure at California State University Chico
California State University, Chico faced a significant challenge: aligning a long-standing team with new, yet-to-be-defined goals. Despite a supportive administration, the Dean was concerned about shifting the team’s focus and motivating them to embrace these emerging goals. By undertaking a comprehensive analysis and restructuring of roles, The Spur Group was able to streamline the team’s efforts and set the stage for achieving the university’s strategic objectives.
🔍 The Opportunity
California State University, Chico (Chico State) was in a period of transition. The university needed to clarify its goals and realign a team that had been entrenched in traditional roles for years. The challenge was twofold: identifying the new goals and motivating a team accustomed to their established routines to adopt and achieve these new objectives.
The existing structure was characterized by overlapping responsibilities across different areas—programming, marketing, and business operations. Team members were performing tasks outside their formal job descriptions, leading to confusion and inefficiencies. The Dean, although supported by administration, knew the team needed support adapting to a new direction.
“The work Spur did in understanding the team and its processes was extremely detailed and thorough. Their research and style of meeting with the group really showed how deeply they wanted to understand each individual and the work they do. I was honestly surprised at the level of detail they uncovered to build the foundation of their future recommendations."
💡 The Solution
To address these challenges, The Spur Group conducted a detailed assessment of the organization’s current state. The process began with a thorough analysis, followed by extensive engagement with team members to understand their roles and aspirations.
“Our approach was to dive deep into understanding each team member’s role and their personal goals,” explained Clare Van Ness, Dean, Professional & Continuing Education at California State University, Chico. “We wanted to align their individual strengths with the organization’s needs.”
The key elements of this project included:
- Individual and Group Meetings: Over several weeks, The Spur Group conducted one-on-one interviews and group discussions. Each meeting aimed to uncover not just job descriptions but also personal ambitions and job satisfaction levels.
- The “Love-Hate” Formula: This formula was key to identifying which tasks individuals loved, disliked, were skilled at, or lacked skills for. This helped in reassigning roles to match each person’s strengths and passions.
- Anonymous Feedback: To gather honest insights, The Spur Group provided opportunities for anonymous input on organizational issues and peer dynamics.
The insights gathered allowed Chico State to clearly delineate roles and responsibilities, ensuring that individuals were working in areas that suited their skills and interests. This restructuring was crucial in addressing the inefficiencies and overlapping tasks that had plagued the unit.
📈 The Outcome
The restructuring led to significant improvements in organizational efficiency and morale. The project’s key outcomes included:
- Establishment of a Leadership Cabinet: The Spur Group helped the Chico team create an all-new leadership team consisting of a marketing leader, a business operations leader, and a programming leader. This new structure enabled the Dean to focus on strategic goals and community engagement.
- Clear Role Definitions: The roles within the team were realigned based on the insights from the interviews and SWOT analysis. Programming tasks were handled by those with relevant expertise, marketing responsibilities were assigned to dedicated professionals, and business operations were streamlined.
- Enhanced Efficiency and Morale: By aligning tasks with team members’ skills and passions, improved job satisfaction and productivity came naturally. The Dean could focus on broader strategic initiatives, while the team became more effective in their specialized areas.
“The work Spur did in understanding the team and its processes was extremely detailed and thorough,” Van Ness remarked. “Their research and style of meeting with the group really showed how deeply they wanted to understand each individual and the work they do. I was honestly surprised at the level of detail they uncovered to build the foundation of their future recommendations.”
The restructured team not only met but exceeded expectations. The new setup facilitated better-targeted hiring and provided a framework for future growth. Each cabinet member led their area effectively, contributing to enhanced program development, marketing success, and operational efficiency.
Clare Van Ness
Dean, Professional and Continuing Education at California State University, Chico
“The Spur Group absolutely delivered on their promises,” noted Van Ness. “We knew it was a complicated project coming in, but Spur was able to make it look simple, yet specifically catered to us.”
The organizational changes have proven sustainable and beneficial, with the Dean and her team better positioned to meet strategic goals and drive future success. The project’s success underscores the value of a tailored, detailed approach to organizational development and team alignment.
“The one thing that really stood out about The Spur Group and how they completed this project is how much it felt like it was customized for Chico State,” Van Ness concluded. “Their attention to detail and explanation of their recommendations was amazing. The added bonus of staying with us to ensure we followed through with their recommendations really showed they cared about the end result.”