Winning Hearts and Minds During a Global Change Initiative
Project Overview
Reed Elsevier (RE) stands as a world-leading publisher across science, legal, and business sectors. When they unified their workforce and business units through a single human resources platform, they launched their most substantial global initiative to date.
RE engaged Afiniti for guidance and execution support – both to build capabilities within their workforce and to create meaningful engagement around this transformative change, ensuring new practices would endure long-term.
We enabled RE to lead change from within, preparing their people to maximize the PeopleHUB platform and transfer knowledge throughout the organization. Within six months, we helped Elsevier achieve near-universal adoption of their unified human resources system across 15 countries, while standardizing performance management practices enterprise-wide.
Our Solution
We designed and executed capability-building programs to implement PeopleHUB across Europe and Asia Pacific. We delivered results that honored RE’s diverse cultural landscape while maintaining fiscal discipline.
The approach included:
- A multi-modal learning framework: Learning preferences differ significantly across cultures and functions. We built capability development around diverse methodologies – including scenario-driven training, digital video content, one-on-one coaching, instructor-led sessions, and technical assistance – customizing each for specific contexts.
- A community of internal champions: We accelerated knowledge transfer by cultivating PeopleHUB specialists within the HR organization who could subsequently build capability among RE managers throughout the enterprise.
- On-site presence for critical moments: Certain situations demand direct, personal engagement. We traveled to multiple Asia-based locations and conducted hands-on training with HR professionals at their facilities.
- Agility to deliver results: Unexpected shifts affected available tools and implementation schedules. Our adaptable team leveraged available resources – in one case, establishing eLearning access within 24 hours through Survey Monkey with outstanding results.
- Localized content delivery: We developed 11 eLearning variations to accommodate system differences. Localized language versions included Japanese, Dutch, and Polish.
The Differences We Made
- 100% of participants rated our function-specific learning experiences as ‘relevant and engaging’.
- 97% of Elsevier’s workforce utilized the system to complete their development plans within established timeframes.
- The PeopleHUB intranet campaigns generated the highest engagement levels ever recorded across the organization.
- Employees gained immediate access to quality eLearning in their native language, customized for their cultural context.
- RE documented measurable advancement in PeopleHUB proficiency and organizational awareness.
By combining capability development with cultural responsiveness, RE transformed a complex technology implementation into a catalyst for organizational alignment – achieving near-universal adoption, standardized performance practices, and sustained behavioral change across a globally distributed workforce.
