FAQs

How2-Change is a business transformation and M&A consultancy that helps organisations execute their strategic goals, focusing on integration, change management, and operational excellence.

Our clients are typically C-suite executives, Private Equity Investment Directors, Operating Partners, and corporate development teams in organisations with 1000+ employees and a turnover of £100m or more.

We serve a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, healthcare, technology, and financial services, adapting our solutions to fit each sector's unique challenges.

We focus on execution rather than just strategy. Our How2-Change Reality Check® ensures that all stakeholders are aligned, and we prioritise skill transfer to empower your teams for future success.

It’s a diagnostic process that rapidly identifies what needs to be done, the potential risks, costs, and expected outcomes, ensuring that all stakeholders are on the same page before executing the transformation. More information here

Our approach combines a strategic framework with hands-on execution. We ensure that all projects are aligned with business objectives and that teams are equipped to handle change.

We bridge the gap between strategy and execution, ensuring that your goals translate into measurable outcomes, reducing risks, and increasing operational efficiency.

We operate globally, with significant experience across the UK, Europe, and the United States.

Yes, we frequently support cross-border M&A transactions and international business transformations.

Visit our website’s Contact Us page to submit your query and schedule a consultation with our team.

We provide full lifecycle support, from pre-deal due diligence to post-deal integration and business transformation.

We focus our pre-deal M&A work on identifying operational risks, synergies, and value creation opportunities early, helping clients make informed investment decisions.

Operational due diligence assesses the target company's capabilities, systems, and processes to ensure they align with the investment thesis and integration plan. Here's some more information on the critical role of pre-deal support

A well-planned integration is key to realising synergies and achieving the expected ROI from an acquisition. Here's an article we wrote on why so many post-acquisition integration efforts fail, and how to fix the issues. 

We align teams, processes, and technology to ensure the combined entity delivers value and operates efficiently. Here's an article on value creation plans. 

Common risks include cultural misalignment, poor communication, and failure to integrate technology and systems properly. Here's an article we wrote about how to simplify complexity in communications. 

We assess the cultural DNA of both organisations and develop a strategy to protect and integrate key cultural drivers that contribute to business success.

By aligning operational execution with the strategic goals set during the acquisition process, we ensure value creation plans are fully realised. Here's some further information you may find useful

We use a capability model to harmonise systems and processes, ensuring that technology supports the combined business operations

Our structured project management approach ensures that all milestones are met within the agreed timeframes, minimising delays and cost overruns. Our project management approach is part of a broader, tried and tested methodology for M&A, Integration and Business Transformation which delivers right first time results. We have a set of tools, templates, processes and intelligent automation which are designed to help us add value from day 1.

Business transformation involves reshaping an organisation’s operations, processes, and systems to align with strategic goals, driving growth, and efficiency.

Clear goals, strong leadership, stakeholder alignment, and a robust execution plan are essential for success.

We begin with a thorough assessment of the current state, then align people, processes, and technology to drive measurable improvements.

Leadership is critical in setting the vision, driving change, and ensuring the organisation remains focused on the end goal.

Our project management methodology includes clear milestones, regular progress reviews, and proactive risk management

We involve key stakeholders from the start, ensuring that their concerns are addressed, and they are fully bought into the transformation plan. We might also be tempted to say that we believe change resistance and change fatigue are convenient excuses for poorly designed and delivered projects, placing blame on the receiving audience.

The biggest challenge is often aligning different parts of the organisation around a common vision and managing the complexities of execution. That's why we invest time up front in the How2-Change Reality Check(R) which ensures that M&A, Integration and Transformation initiatives are set up to succeed. 

We break down complex transformations into manageable projects, each with clear objectives and timelines, ensuring that each phase delivers measurable results.

Successful transformation can lead to cost savings, increased operational efficiency, improved employee engagement, and accelerated growth.

We measure success through financial metrics, operational performance, and employee and customer satisfaction, ensuring that all goals are achieved.

We specialise in driving value creation for Private Equity-backed businesses by ensuring that operational execution is aligned with investment goals.

By focusing on operational efficiencies, technology integration, and leadership alignment, we drive rapid value creation

We help integrate acquisitions, align operations, and implement scalable processes to ensure sustainable growth across the portfolio. We have also put in M&A platforms to help PE backed businesses to standardise and enhance their approach to M&A and Integration. 

We assess the current operational capabilities and identify areas for improvement that will drive cost savings and revenue growth.

We develop and implement an integration plan that aligns with the value creation plan, ensuring that synergies are realised.

Yes, we often align our fees with the success of the value creation plan, risking a portion of our fees on achieving over-delivery.

Operational risk refers to the challenges related to integrating and scaling the operations of portfolio companies, which can erode value if not managed effectively.

We implement scalable processes, ensure technology integration, and align leadership teams to drive rapid, sustainable growth.

Challenges often include managing rapid growth, aligning teams, and integrating new acquisitions while maintaining operational efficiency.

We take a structured approach to each integration, ensuring that the combined businesses operate efficiently and deliver on the strategic goals.

Change management is the structured approach to transitioning individuals, teams, and organisations from their current state to a desired future state.

We align stakeholders, communicate effectively, and ensure that all parts of the organisation are ready and equipped for the change. We do this via our How2-Change Reality Check(R). 

Common reasons include lack of stakeholder alignment, poor communication, and failure to address employee concerns. We wrote an article on some of the most embarrassing Change Management failures. You may like to read it. 

We focus on transparent communication and involve employees early in the process to ensure they understand the benefits and are committed to the change.

We work closely with leadership to ensure they are unified in their vision and approach, and that they communicate a consistent message to the rest of the organisation.

Effective communication is key. We ensure that all stakeholders are informed of progress, challenges, and successes throughout the process. We wrote an article on how to simplify complexity for leadership communication during M&A, Integration & Transformation, using the Disney Pixar film “Inside Out” as a metaphor. We also wrote a piece about how fables and children’s stories can provide a source of inspiration for leadership communications. 

We use a variety of tools, including stakeholder mapping, risk assessments, and project management software, to manage change effectively. These combine as part of our M&A, Integratiomn & Transformation in a box toolkit to ensure that we can start to add value from day 1. 

Success is measured by how well the change meets its objectives, whether it stays on budget and schedule, and the level of stakeholder satisfaction. As part of our How2-Change Reality Check(R), we ensure that we have aligned stakeholders on strategy, timings, likely costs, benefits and challenges before we start out. 

Change fatigue occurs when employees are overwhelmed by too many poorly executed projects. We prevent this by ensuring all projects are well-designed and deliver real value. We even go a step further to say that change fatigue and change resistance are just convenient excuses for poorly designed and delivered projects

By ensuring clear goals and delivering value at every stage, we prevent change fatigue and keep employees engaged throughout the transformation.

Technology is often a key enabler of transformation, driving efficiencies, improving processes, and enabling better decision-making. Here's an article you may find interesting about how technology has driven business transformation and how it will continue to accelerate. 

We align your digital strategy with your business goals, ensuring that technology investments drive real value.

We assess the current systems and processes of both companies and develop a plan to harmonise and optimise technology across the combined entity.

While we focus primarily on strategic and operational transformations, we can support AI and machine learning initiatives where they align with business goals.

We develop a strategy to integrate or replace legacy systems in a way that minimises disruption and maximises value for the business.

Enterprise architecture ensures that all technology systems are aligned with the strategic goals of the business, driving efficiency and scalability.

We follow best practices in project management and enterprise architecture, ensuring that IT systems support the broader transformation goals.

Common risks include data migration issues, system compatibility problems, and disruptions to business operations.

We identify potential risks early in the process and develop a comprehensive risk management plan to ensure the smooth execution of the transformation.

We ensure that all technology integrations are aligned with the latest cybersecurity best practices, protecting your business from potential threats.

By streamlining processes, harmonising systems, and aligning teams, we ensure that the combined entity operates efficiently and delivers the expected synergies.

The main challenges include resistance to change, misaligned processes, and outdated technology systems.

We assess current processes, identify inefficiencies, and develop solutions to streamline operations and improve performance.

We develop clear KPIs and performance metrics to ensure that all parts of the organisation are aligned and driving toward the same goals.

We conduct a thorough risk assessment at the start of the project and implement a risk management plan to ensure that potential challenges are addressed proactively.

Our project management approach includes rigorous cost controls, ensuring that all spending aligns with the agreed budget.

We work closely with operational teams to ensure that transformation projects do not disrupt core business activities, balancing long-term goals with short-term needs.

We assess the current organisational structure and develop a plan to align roles and responsibilities with the new business strategy.

We focus on clear communication, transparency, and involving employees in the decision-making process to keep them engaged and committed.

By streamlining processes and adopting flexible systems, we help businesses become more agile and responsive to market changes.

Leadership is essential in setting the vision, driving alignment, and ensuring that the organisation remains focused on its transformation goals.

We work closely with leadership to ensure they are aligned, equipped with the right tools, and able to communicate a clear vision to the rest of the organisation.

We provide coaching and support to help leaders manage the complexities of transformation, ensuring they are prepared to lead their teams through the process.

We work with leadership teams from both organisations to develop a shared vision and ensure that all leaders are aligned on the integration plan.

Leaders often struggle with aligning teams, managing resistance to change, and balancing short-term operational needs with long-term strategic goals.

We provide a structured approach to managing change, ensuring that leaders have the tools, support, and insights they need to navigate the challenges of transformation.

Clear and consistent communication from leadership is critical to ensuring that all stakeholders understand the vision, goals, and progress of the transformation.

We work with leadership teams to develop clear messaging, ensuring that all communications are aligned with the strategic goals of the transformation. We've written a few insights pieces on leadership communication during M&A, Integration and Transformation. You can find them here

Middle management plays a key role in translating the vision set by leadership into actionable plans and ensuring that teams are aligned and executing effectively.

Yes, we have several case studies showcasing our work in M&A, business transformation, and operational change. Please contact us for more details.

Simply visit our Contact Us page to submit your query, and one of our team members will be in touch to schedule a consultation.

Yes, we frequently work alongside in-house teams, providing expertise and support to ensure successful project execution.

We take confidentiality very seriously and ensure that all client information is protected. We are happy to sign NDAs and confidentiality agreements as required