WATCH NOW: From Worst to First—Changing Culture to Drive Performance

About the Presentation

When U.S. Navy Commander Ernie Spence took over the Navy’s largest squadron, it was the worst performing squadron in the Navy. The challenges were great. The squadron was averaging 4.5 significant safety incidents per month, was 20% over maintenance budget, training requirements were over a year behind schedule, and most astonishingly, only 1 of the squadron’s 117 aircraft was deemed “safe to fly”. With an intense focus on improving the organizational culture of the squadron, Ernie was able to turn the squadron around in less than 18 months—reducing safety incidents to less than 1 per quarter, increasing flight hours flown by 44%, restoring the squadron’s training program. Subsequently, the squadron was recognized as having the best maintenance program in U.S. Naval Aviation, all while coming in 21% under budget.

The need to clearly defining culture before trying the change it
The characteristics of organizational cultures that lead to Operational Excellence
How to identify the cultural gaps that affect your organization’s safety, quality, reliability, and profitability
Actions you can take to drive cultural transformation in your organization
Understanding the impediments and challenges along the way
Lesson-learned from this and other such transformations