BP Oil-Refinery Technology Group (RTG)

"Terri is a true workshop facilitator - empowering the participants to own and run the process, making sure milestones and objectives are met and that outcomes are delivered. Terri maintained team focus by continuously yet unobtrusively monitoring and advising on all leadership, communication and networking aspects of the workshop. Terri has distinct skills in maintaining a positive 'vibe' amongst workshop participants and is able to achieve exceptionally high levels of inclusion and participation."
Don White, Technology Manager, BP Chemicals

Business Challenge

Following BP’s merger with Amoco, the Management Team of the BP Oil Refinery Technology Group, sited in Chicago and London, decided to carry out its own restructure in order to better align to the new environment in a cost effective manner.
The team’s key objectives were to:

  • Respond to the restructuring challenge proactively and positively
  • Generate as many creative solutions as possible for the new structure
  • Ensure energies remained focused on customer needs.

How Inspire Helped

An initial three-day London workshop was designed and facilitated by Terri McNerney to help the 18-strong management team overcome personal resistances to change, explore customer needs and investigate a number of different business models that might deliver the required results. After a range of possible solutions had been evaluated, the team prioritised two models for further exploration. A three-day follow-up Chicago workshop was then organised to review the results of the research that the team had carried out, explore the benefits of each model and reach a conclusion about which model would be presented to the BP Business Unit Leaders.

Outcomes

In just eight weeks, the BP Oil Refinery Technology Group Management Team reached agreement about its own restructure and focus. When the final solution was presented to the BP Senior Management, the team were given approval to create a project team to deliver the proposed model. By combining creative facilitation techniques with solid emotional support, the workshops Terri led enabled a difficult business challenge to be responded to in a highly proactive, positive and customer-focused manner.