Success Stories

Novo Nordisk

Building new strategies for new facilities… and happy families

Healthcare company Novo Nordisk is a
world leader in diabetes care. Because the Denmark-based company
currently operates in most countries worldwide, it knows a great deal
about the challenges and opportunities that go along with moving into
new markets. So, when Novo Nordisk had reached the decision to invest
over $US200 million in the construction of a second facility in Brazil
that would be 2-3 times the size of the existing one, they knew right
away that there were going to be some key challenges.
Perhaps the most notable of these
challenges was to formulate a basic strategy for the Danish project
leaders that would be spending 2-3 years abroad with their families to
oversee the construction of the facility. Furthermore, there was a need
to bring these managers together as a team – both on a professional and
personal level. After extensive dialogue and review, Novo Nordisk
decided to include workshop based on the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® method and
materials. The directors had heard about the way the method naturally
allows group members to seek and identify important problems and then
allow for free expression of problem-solving ideas – and they were
willing to experiment.
As it often does for pharmaceutical
companies, the experimentation paid off – in a big way. A two-day Real
Time Strategy session based on the LEGO®SERIOUS PLAY® method and
materials, which even included dialogue with existing Brazilian
management, allowed the team to reach consensus on a concrete overall
strategy for the construction of the new facility.
The end benefits did not stop there.
Through the workshops based on the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® method, team
members were able to identify problem areas that they had not previously
seen – including some practical concerns about how their families would
adjust to living abroad. What better tool to use with the families than
the one that had previously proven itself to work so well? Thus,
workshops based on the LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® method was used again with
these families – and, since the families have happily adjusted to their
new homes and met many new friends through these workshops, the tool was
brought overseas to be used in Brazil.
The method functioned as a valuable
tool in the development of the project and has contributed to the
overall positive spirit. Combined with a very ambitious,
holistic-oriented and professional client like Novo Nordisk, it has
ultimately yielded extraordinary results.
– Workshop delivered by Trivium, Denmark