Change management tops the agenda at Abbott symposium
Change management emerged as the key theme at a symposium hosted by Abbott Diagnostics at Alveston Manor Hotel, Stratford Upon Avon in October. The meeting, attended by customers and non-customers alike, explored the needs of laboratories when modernising their service and instrumentation. It was evident from the symposium that the relationship between the laboratory and its commercial partner is critical to success.
A session by Ghazala Ovaice, Abbott Learning & Development, on the theory of change management captured the audience and demonstrated the importance of planning and implementing the change process. It focussed on the roles people adopt during change, understanding of different emotional responses and delegates were encouraged to explore their own preferred style for leading change.
Bev Jeffrey, quality manager for the Blood Science Laboratory at Eastern North Hertfordshire Trust, remarked, “I wish I had heard these presentations two years ago! They would certainly have helped me manage our own change process better. I also learnt a lot about myself during the meeting.”
Other topics discussed included process optimisation, IT, and the need for flexible solutions that can be tailored to meet customers’ requirements. Quality service and support was another key theme with training and education playing an important part.
Hayley Baker, laboratory manager for biochemistry at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, commented, “I was particularly interested to learn of the educational resources Abbott has made available. It is always a struggle to find ways to demonstrate our competencies and Abbott’s user-friendly materials and webcasts look great. And some of them are CPD accredited too!”
Neil Jenkinson, network director for the Greater Manchester Pathology Network, said, “The symposium was very good – really interesting topics, interactive sessions and a great way to see the broad range of services Abbott can offer.”