Case Study:
How genentech Overcame Obstacles through Coaching
genentech is a multi-billion dollar company and it’s considered
Department was recognized as the “No. 2 Best Place to Work” in
the founder of the biotechnology industry, but that success
Computerworld Magazine. After the merger, HR complaints from
didn’t come without some struggles. Like many other companies,
every department skyrocketed, except from IT, in which there
genentech has faced hundreds of layoffs, survived a massive
were zero.
merger, and dealt with low morale. Though these struggles had
deep roots, coaching cultivated a thriving company.
“It’s very transformational,” said Todd Pierce, Chief Information
Officer and visionary of the
coaching program at genentech.
Pierce felt coaching was necessary
to build an agile company and
address morale issues. Employees
The return on investment was widespread. Evaluators
believe the program is producing $1.50 to $2 for every dollar
spent to deliver the coaching program. They also saw a
“... we are better positioned to
respond to change and lead
technological innovation.”
in IT were so unsatisfied that
50% improvement in employee
communication, collaboration, and
conflict management. Additionally,
there was a 10–20% increase in
employee satisfaction and 12% increase
in customer satisfaction. “There is
the department was recognized as the worst department at
greater collaboration across functions, customer relationships
genentech in terms of employee satisfaction. So Pierce began
have improved, employee engagement is noticeably higher,
his coaching program, but the blows kept coming. A merger
and we are better positioned to respond to change and
materialized forcing a 20% workforce reduction. Coaching
lead technological innovation,” said Pierce. For genentech,
didn’t just help genentech survive difficult economic times,
professional coaching is a leadership strategy that had a
they began thriving. As coaching took root, genentech’s IT
big payoff.