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Measuring Success with OnDevice – Transforming talent retention & culture through people planning
OnDevice services the world’s leading brands with their brand lift measurement technology. The founders knew to expand and grow they needed to improve their talent retention. An organisational redesign laid the foundations for doubling growth and led to a Best Place to Work award.
Gauging the company
OnDevice specialises in measuring brand advertising effectiveness and was set up by Alistair Hill and Tim Cleminson. For the first eight years, the founders focused on defining their offering, acquiring clients, and expanding their team, which grew to about 25 people.
Scaling the hurdles
As OnDevice scaled, they faced new challenges related to employee development, talent retention, fostering a positive culture and organisational culture. These problems hindered collaboration and overall organisational performance, prompting CEO Alistair to seek expert help.
Calibrating success: the solution
Following recommendations from valued peers, Alistair contacted People Puzzles. Alistair recognised the need for someone with the right board level experience and strategic vision and liked the fractional model without the overhead of a full-time hire. After an initial meeting with Regional Director, Serena Cole, he brought People Director Michelle Lustig in to help one day a week.
Watch the video or read on to see how Michelle helped OnDevice succeed.
Metrics in motion: implementation steps
Michelle started by conducting a comprehensive engagement survey which provided valuable insights into team dynamics, employee satisfaction, and organisational shortcomings. Instead of starting with a rigid plan, Michelle prioritised immediate actions to address pressing issues. She particularly focused on:
- employee retention
- salary benchmarking
- HR processes
- leadership & management development
Michelle integrated seamlessly with the OnDevice team, leveraging their smart, commercially savvy nature to balance organisational and employee needs. She enjoyed the high-trust environment which facilitated quick decision-making and nimble responses to emerging challenges. She used the People Puzzles Pinwheel framework to guide improvements across the five key areas and professionalise the organisation by introducing the following:
- Essential HR processes to root the business in strong people foundations from which to grow
- DISC profiling to develop leadership capabilities, identify talent and align employee career paths with company values
- Management workshops to improve effective people management and cascade values & goals through the organisation
- Leadership development using Lencioni’s Five Behaviours
- Refined the organisational structure to ensure the right people were in the right seats.
Michelle’s involvement linked the strategic people plan to the overall business plan, supporting OnDevice’s growth ambitions. Clear communication of strategy and goals ensured that every team member understood the company’s direction and their own role in achieving it.
Benchmarking brilliance
The strategic initiatives led by Michelle had a transformative impact on OnDevice:
- Enhanced retention: The company experienced significant improvements in employee retention, which contributed to organisational stability and a doubling of people from 25 to over 50 .
- Cultural improvement: A cohesive, collaborative culture emerged, making OnDevice an attractive workplace and earning them the “Best Place to Work” accolade from Campaign Magazine, a leading magazine in the advertising and marketing industry.
- Commercial success: OnDevice has doubled its revenue and team in three years. The improved processes and professional development opportunities have enhanced overall performance of the team.
“You can have the best strategy in the world, but if you don’t have the team, you won’t be able to do it. We now have brilliant people throughout the organisation, which means we now have the ability to double again” Alistair Hill, CEO & Co-founder of OnDevice
- Strategic alignment: recognition and reputation: The structured approach to people management and development not only supported business growth but also bolstered OnDevice’s reputation within the industry.
Final measures
OnDevice’s journey underscores the critical importance of people-centric strategies in driving business success. By investing in experienced HR leadership and focusing on employee development, retention, and culture, OnDevice transformed its organisational capabilities. The collaboration between the founders, Michelle, and the OnDevice team demonstrates that with the right people and strategic support, a company can achieve remarkable growth and build a thriving workplace.
Could your business benefit from some expert guidance on structure, culture and performance? Whatever stage of the journey you’re at, if you can see the benefit of keeping people at the heart of your business and creating a future-ready strategy for growth, we’d love to have a chat. For a free 30-minute consultation with an HR Director local to you, please contact us on 0345 646 5201, or email hello@peoplepuzzles for a call back.
