Public sector Bringing change into focus through story

A Finnish public-sector organisation was undergoing several major changes at once. New technologies, operating models and ways of working required different teams, disciplines and organisational cultures to find common ground. At the same time, the organisation needed to attract new talent with specialised technical expertise. 

IVALO was brought in to find a common story that could unite the different parts of the organisation around a shared direction – and help translate its recruitment needs into a compelling proposition for prospective talent. 

Finding the common direction 

The project began with interviews, research and collaborative workshops involving leadership and employees. The work revealed a complex landscape of overlapping initiatives, each moving at its own pace. 

The challenge was not a lack of ambition, but a lack of shared understanding of how the different changes connected – and what they meant for people across the organisation. 

Turning complexity into a story 

IVALO connected the different initiatives, expertise and perspectives through one transformation narrative, linking the organisation’s established expertise with its ambitions in software development and digital innovation. 

The story was translated into a practical change roadmap, with recommendations for leadership, communication and employee engagement tailored to different groups across the organisation. 

In parallel, research into software developers’ motivations helped turn the organisation’s recruitment needs into a proposition that spoke to prospective candidates: meaningful work, technical ownership and the opportunity to help shape the organisation’s future. 

One story, shared direction 

The work helped the leadership team see the full scope of the transformation for the first time. What had previously been viewed through separate initiatives and individual responsibilities became a shared understanding of the bigger picture, creating a stronger foundation for collaboration and decision-making. 

The organisation gained a unifying story and a common language for change, supported by a concrete roadmap for putting it into practice. 

The work also helped articulate the organisation’s recruitment needs in a way designed to resonate with prospective talent. The client also reported recruitment results that exceeded expectations. 

Recruitment results exceeded expectations