Undertaking the Journey - What Do I Do Now?

CPAs must examine all aspects of their working lives to remove barriers that prevent change from being effective. In addition to setting the destination through Visioning and charting a course through planning techniques and strategies, CPAs must undertake the journey to the future by revitalizing and aligning key organizational factors that are critical to the successful management of change.

CPAs must cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset to maximize their opportunities and create a competitive and successful future.

Key Navigation Points for Managing Successful Change

The Change Wheel is a comprehensive model for managing change that enables CPAs to maximize opportunities and minimize challenges as we move forward with implementation of the Vision and alignment of the profession for the future.

While this model is important for all business environments, it is especially effective for knowledge-based industries and organizations where capturing knowledge and insight of the "big picture" is critical to the bottom line.

Examples of Key Navigation Points for the CPA Profession

Communicating ChangeÉto Share and Gain Commitment for the CPA Profession of the Future

Communicating Change involves sharing the visioning experience and collaborating with employers, co-workers and fellow CPAs, and maintaining a commitment to carry the Vision forward by creating strategies and managing change. The essence of communicating change involves developing and deepening the appropriate attitudes, awareness, and understanding of the need for change to meet the demands of the future and how CPAs can work together to enrich the profession as a whole.

Value Chains... to Enhance What CPAs Deliver

Value Chains (what we deliver) include maximizing work flows and needed changes within an organization to produce effective and profitable new skills, products, and services. This requires the optimization of efficient delivery of high value services and products to the marketplace.

Structural Alignment... to Improve the Way CPAs are Organized

Structural Alignment (how we are organized) involves moving away from the rigidity of traditional management hierarchies and function-based departments, to flexible structuring of organizations in line with value chains. This takes into full account the concept of multiple competencies and the integration of areas of best business practice.

Systems... to Refine the Way CPAs Perform Work

Systems (how we work) are numerous and include information, financial, people, and marketing etc. In a broad sense, systems should be strategic and dynamic, and support continuous improvement in both value chains and structures. Systems include the gathering and sharing of a wide variety of knowledge and results-oriented interpretations. To a large degree, this involves the effective use of current and emerging technologies.

People... to have the Right People in the Right Place at the Right Time

People (who we are) are the primary asset of the CPA profession. The profession will enhance its services, competencies, and rewards in order to attract and retain talent. This includes the appropriate education, mentoring, and sharing of knowledge to enable the profession to provide greater value in the workplace.

Culture... to Leverage the Way We Behave and Respond

Culture (the way we do things) refers to the way in which deeply held values and ideologies are visibly reflected in behavior and action. The CPA profession must Òwalk the talkÓÑuphold our values, leverage diversity, and embrace the demands of the future. The power of culture is often the reason why change efforts fail. In order to succeed, the force of tradition, unspoken norms and reward mechanisms have to be aligned and supportive of the change initiatives.