Marc Dortu is the Manager of the Department of Organizational Development at the Municipality of the Hague. The Department consists of ten internal consultants that advise the Municipality management in matters related to organizational structure, transformation and change management, and leadership development.
Marc Dortu has used Spiral Dynamics since 2010. The framework was introduced to supplement lean tools in fostering a continuous improvement culture. The Municipality found that the lean toolkit was adept at supporting process and management improvements but did not address leadership development or behavioral dynamics. Spiral Dynamics was implemented to fill this gap and to serve as a diagnostic framework that describes why people behave the way that they do. Marc: “When you learn Spiral Dynamics, you put on a different kind of spectacles. From that moment on, you see the world through the lens of Spiral dynamics and can’t take it off. When you hear people speak, you figure out what they think is important and you see what value system they’re speaking from.”
Once Spiral Dynamics was introduced to the Municipality, it was received with great enthusiasm and departments throughout the organization requested trainings. Marc attributes rapid adoption of the framework to its ability to generate an understanding of what is happening, a language to discuss what is observed, and clarity in discerning what is needed. This combination allows for an objective way to look at potentially challenging topics. Marc: “Spiral helps one understand what is happening. It also creates a language to help others see what is happening and what is needed. It’s a positive way of looking at things and can put things on the table that normally stay under the table.” The Municipality has found that this leads to improved interpersonal interactions and more effective collaboration. Currently, at least half of the staff is familiar with Spiral Dynamics.
Marc and his team use Spiral Dynamics to support team and organizational development. At the team level, it is used to help new teams learn how to work together, aid existing teams in working more effectively, and support teams under duress in navigating crises.
| “Spiral gives insight into how people look at the world, what they think is important, and what bugs them. If you understand that, you can relate to them better. You can also foster better interactions and help teams work together.” |
At the organizational level, it is used to identify what stage of development best classifies the organization and what is needed for its further evolution. Using Spiral Dynamics enables Marc and his team to consider both groups and their context and describe how the interaction between the two can lead to a change in values over time. Marc: “Spiral Dynamics acknowledges that there are different phases in your life and that you can encounter things that throw your life upside down. It allows your profile to change as you develop as a human being.” This differentiates it from other tools that generate a static classification that never changes.
Marc began using ValueMatch approximately two years ago when the tool he was using became unavailable. He noted that one thing that sets ValueMatch apart is the professionalism of the assessments and the aesthetics of the reports. The ValueMatch team is also unique in other ways.
| “The ValueMatch team are enthusiasts who continuously develop and improve the toolkit they offer.” |
Marc would recommend ValueMatch to coaches, HR professionals, managers, and others who are looking for ways to support development at the individual, team, or organizational level.
Interview and article by Colleen Kinneen, USA
