Learnings from a successful transformation to a high-performance organization: a longitudinal case study

An increasing number of organizations embark on a journey to transform themselves into a high-performance organization (HPO) to be able to better deal with the changes in their environment. Unfortunately, in the current literature hardly any approaches are described that can support them during this transformation. One promising approach, the (Waal and Heijtel, Meas Bus Excell 21:101–116, 2017) HPO transformation approach, has only been validated in one instance. This study outlines an additional validated approach. A simplified version of the aforementioned transformation approach (Waal et al. The high-performance finance function, handbook for the future-oriented financial professional, IGI Global, Hershey, 2022) was used at a case company which in 5 year time transformed into an HPO. Based on a questionnaire which collected and evaluated interventions undertaken by the case company, coupled with an extensive interview on the interventions with the manager of the case company, the interventions were categorized in the HPO transformation approach. The HPO transformation approach made it possible to make a structured overview of the interventions, which gave insight into how the case company went about its successful HPO transformation. Thus, the research has both a theoretical and practical contribution. Theoretically, the currently rather limited academic literature on transformation approaches regarding high-performance organizations is extended with another validated case, thus further developing this line of research. Practically, organizations get access to a validated transformation approach, thereby increasing their chance on a successful HPO transformation. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43546-022-00354-8.