International Distillers & Vintners (IDV) UK Ltd.
International Distillers and Vintners (IDV) UK Ltd operated in the high
competitive liquor industry. As an aid to developing strategy and strategic
direction the company employed the help of IMCA in developing and carrying out
its first ever in-company MBA course. Because this course touched strategic
nerves, IDV executives were keen to participate in the course. IDV’s chief
executive ‘championed’ the course and played an important role in its design
and development. The course proved to be very successful and as a result, the
company undertook further courses with IMCA. The CEO was so impressed with the
results that he later undertook and successfully completed one of IMCA’s
action research doctorates, thus reinforcing strategic focus and encouraging
learning throughout the organization. The CEO of IDV, James Espey commented:
“The process works wonderfully, the savings realized by one project alone on
the first IDV action learning MBA paid for the entire course in less than a
year, and went on paying back. That was just one of the fourteen projects,
almost all of which gave a bottom line pay-back. And that’s not to mention the
personal development for the people involved. As a way to deliver strategic
intent, it can’t be beaten” The projects undertaken included: