The essential characteristics of successful organizational transformation: Findings from a Delphi panel of experts

BACKGROUND: Federal legislation has called for the phasing out of sheltered workshops and the transition to integrated employment, causing providers to struggle with how to adapt their model towards providing community integration services. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to identify the essential characteristics of successful organizational transformation for providers serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. METHODS: A Delphi panel consisting of 36 experts in the field of organizational transformation underwent an iterative process to respond to previously identified characteristics of successful organizational transformation, develop new characteristics, and then rank the final characteristics in order of importance. RESULTS: The identified essential characteristics to successful organizational transformation in ranked order were: Clear and consistent goals; an agency culture that values inclusion; an active, person-centered job placement process; a strong internal and external communication plan; reallocated and restructured resources; an ongoing investment in professional staff development; a focus on customer engagement; effective employment performance measurement, quality assurance, and program oversight; a holistic approach; and multiple and diverse community partnerships. CONCLUSIONS: The Delphi panel confirmed the six characteristics identified in previous research, and added four new characteristics that reflected recent changes in the field of employment and the understanding of what creates lasting organizational change.