The Scenario: Curve Technologies Inc (curveDental)
is a stellar young dental technologies company leading the
world of dentistry into Web-based data management systems
by offering the first commercialized Web-based dental practice
management application. Eliminating the need for third-party
client-server software and services, curveDental's highly
effective data management systems offer secure in-house,
Web-based solutions for dental practices.
The Challenge: Launched in April 2006, curveDental's
systems have already garnered customers in 45 dental practices.
Curve has identified a goal of reaching 4,620 dental practices
in the next five 5 years, representing substantial short-term
growth for this vibrant and decidedly young company.
To manage this rate of growth, the curveDental team needed
to find a way to continue performing at a high level and
within an increasingly demanding environment, while establishing
and maintaining positive work-life balances.
At the same time, curveDental wished to meet these productivity
and growth challenges without sacrificing the positive and
constructive culture that characterized their team.
A Creative Solution: Given Richard’s vastly
diverse experience and innovative approaches to both managing
change and achieving top levels of performance, curveDental’s
management team saw a Richard as a perfect fit. To address
their challenges, Richard outlined the following approach:
-
Implement the InnerWarrior Cycle™ – a systematic
thinking and action sequence that leads to enhanced
performance at the strategic, tactical and personal
levels.
-
Work with the team to define the intangible factors
critical to sustain performance and success, clearly
defining and improving on behavioural competencies leading
to technical proficiency and overall success.
-
Develop both team and personal action plans which
identify:
- Critical Success Factors (behaviors to implement)
- Measures for the delivery of these Critical Success
Factors
- A plan for each team member to implement all Critical
Success Factors identified.
-
Schedule a monthly coaching meeting with each team
member to track success in delivering his or her own
action plan.
-
Co-facilitate and/or facilitate a periodical Courageous
Truthful Assessment using a
custom-built
scorecard. These steps have become a continuous
part of curveDental management strategies, and will
remain in place until the desired level of performance
is achieved, or an exit strategy implemented.
The Outcome: With Richard’s assistance,
curveDental now has an integrated development structure and
support system in place. Curve’s culture has been preserved
by defining and emphasizing the intangible elements of success,
which in turn improve technical performance and productivity.
The management team is highly adaptable, able to perform and
thriving in an environment of continuous change.
Testimonials:
“As a technology company, we are experiencing very fast growth.
Richard has helped us to develop the skills required to effectively
meet the challenges and also capitalize on opportunities.
His approach produces tangible outcomes (results than can
be measured) and practical strategies that work in our fast
paced environment.
Richard challenges our team, moving us out of our individual
and collective comfort zones and stretching our group to engage
in candid reflection on performance and results. We rely less
on standard problem solving approaches (a challenge that was
holding us back) and place a greater emphasis on social engineering
to resolve our challenges. We have a greater degree of candor
amongst our management team, and an improved level of communication
overall. “
-- Kevin Blanchette, Chief Operating Officer, curveDental
Moving Forward: As Curve Technologies continues
to pursue its rigorous performance goals, Richard's process
has expanded to include the sales team as well.
Update, November 2007
As Curve Technologies continues to pursue its rigorous
performance goals, Richard has been named to Curve’s
advisory board. Curve continues to grow and improve its
level of performance. Over the last few months it has:
- Achieved its sales objective;
- Tripled the number of its employees;
- Raised over $2 million in capital;
- Continued to improve on its products.
Curve’s dynamism, innovation and energy comes from
its young CEO Matt Dorey’s clear sense of purpose.
As the company keeps growing, the challenge for Richard
is to help Curve propagate the “Curve Culture
of Purpose,” as he does with each of his clients.
We are making a massive impact on this $100-billion-a-year
industry and are completely changing how business works
for dental practices.
-- Matt Dorey, CEO, Curve Technologies
Read the Calgary
Inc. magazine article about Matt Dorey, Curve’s
CEO and how Curve Dental plans to change the dental industry.
PDF
version of Curve Technologies Case Study
