upper 90 consulting
  • SOLUTIONS
  • WORK
  • INSIGHTS
  • ABOUT
  • REVIEWS
  • CONTACT
  • BLOG
  • Menu
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Mail

“When the rate of change inside an institution becomes
slower than the rate of change outside, the end is in sight.”
~ Jack Welch

Solutions

Because teams vary, we tailor our solutions

Assessments

Uncover opportunities

We will use these tools to help your team identify needs and uncover opportunities:

  • Performance drivers assessment – An online tool to identify performance drivers for your team
  • Operational assessment – An analysis of your team’s talent, capabilities, platforms, systems and processes
  • Benchmarking – Insights from the best practices of leading teams

Organizational Design

Increase effectiveness

To help your team work more effectively and efficiently, we will design a new:

  • Operating model – Fresh ways to organize work, innovate the function and get closer to the business
  • Org structure – Putting the right people in roles that leverage their strengths and lift performance

Strategy

Script the future

We will help your team develop a game plan to achieve more ambitious goals and valuable outcomes.

Performance Excellence

Increase value

Our unique operating system will clarify your team’s direction and activate its culture to elevate individual performance and team value.

“The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not
the turbulence – it is to act with yesterday’s logic.”
~ Peter Drucker

Work

Some brief case studies

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Read More

Globalizing a siloed team

Goal

Increase alignment, collaboration and performance in a distributed and siloed global team

Approach

Through a functional assessment, we uncovered opportunities for greater alignment and collaboration worldwide. We developed a set of operating norms and designed a more integrated operating model and inclusive org structure. We also helped to refresh the team’s global strategy.

Results

The team is now more global and inclusive, with higher collaboration, clear accountability and a focus on prioritized outcomes.

Read More

Harmonizing communication & marcomm teams

Goal

Get corporate and marketing communication teams working as one group, close to the business

Approach

To bring 170+ professionals close to the business, we designed a new operating model and org structure. Then, we developed a new vision for the entire team and refreshed its values and competencies. In 2019, a new operating system will go live to help drive higher performance.

Results

There is now closer collaboration and alignment within the team, which is becoming closer to, and more valued by, the business units.

Read More

Reducing impediments to collaboration in a highly decentralized university

Goal

Increase collaboration among 200+ communicators spread across 20 independent schools/units

Approach

Following a functional assessment, we developed a plan to: a) redesign the operating model and org structure of the central team; b) strengthen the capabilities of the central team, and c) increase collaboration between communicators across the institution.

Results

The new operating model and org structure are taking shape. Nine new senior positions at the center have been created. These and other improvements will strengthen capabilities of the central team and make communication more effective and efficient across the organization.

Read More

Building a high-performing communication team at a large, fast-growing company

Goal

Build a high-performing communication function for a company growing rapidly through acquisitions

Approach

We developed a strategy to strengthen capabilities over three years through phased investments in talent, platforms and systems. We co-created a new operating system to articulate the function’s new direction (vision) and activate its culture (values, competencies). Through continuous improvement, the team became a model function in a company where high performance was one of five strategic imperatives.

Results

The team attracted top talent, did exceptional work and become an essential partner to the business. Several senior team members were recruited to help lead high-profile corporate transformation initiatives.

Read More

Strengthening capabilities of a communication team in a disrupted industry

Goal

Strengthen communications capabilities to support business transformation and retain competitive advantage

Approach

Through a functional assessment, we identified the capabilities the team required to support a rapidly changing business. Then, in partnership with key business leaders, we created a three-year communication strategy. A new operating model and organizational structure have also been developed.

Results

In progress.

Read More

Using design thinking to develop practical solutions to common, complex challenges

Goal

Assemble leading CCOs and SMEs to develop solutions for complex communication challenges

Approach

With a client and top academic, we brought 20 top CCOs and consultants together for a two-day deep dive into three pressing topics confronting most communication teams. Using design thinking, we unpacked each topic and prototyped practical solutions. This was a novel way to gather best practices and develop fresh, practical solutions.

Results

Participants loved the intimate, “un-conference” format and left with actionable solutions.

Insights

Here are fresh insights into high performance in communication teams

Blog

Different operating models

In my experience, every communication team is different. There are similarities - but no two teams are identical. ...
Read More

Beyond content

Have you ever heard someone say this: “we need a content machine to ...
Read More

Innovating the function

At a recent conference, one thought was racing through my brain ...
Read More

Blistering change

I’m sure you’ve heard this: “but we’ve always done it that way.” When communicators say this, I like to remind ...
Read More

Citius, altius, fortius

This motto for the modern Olympic Games means “faster, higher, stronger.” I wish I could make that upper 90’s motto because it ...
Read More

Research

Delivering Higher Value Through Higher Performance

Read More

CCO Views on High-Performing Communication Teams

Read More

High Performance in Corporate Communications Today

Read More

Higher Value Through Higher Performance

Read More

CCO Professional Development

Read More

“People don’t care how much you know
until they know how much you care.”
~ Anonymous

What makes us different

Our purpose is simple: to help you deliver higher value to your organization by raising your team’s performance to the next level.

We put your success first. And we understand your challenges because we’ve led large teams like yours.

We also:
• sweat the details
• navigate corporate processes and politics
• partner effectively with your colleagues
• stay current on the latest in communication management and practice.

Mark Bain heads upper 90 consulting. For more on his experience, visit his LinkedIn profile.

GO TO LINKEDIN

Reviews

What experts say

Mark knows communication teams and understands what drives their performance. What I value the most, though, is how he works. He listens intensely, he helps teams iterate, he partners with different departments (including HR), and he’s always moving work forward, positively and productively. For us, Mark has been one of the easiest and most value-adding consultants we have ever retained.

Carole CastoVP – Marketing and Communications # – Cummins Inc.

Mark has the deep experience and global perspective you’d expect of a top-flight consultant. What sets him apart is his intense passion for his work. He believes in making people better and making teams stronger, and he knows how to make it happen.

Rob ZeigerVP and Global CCO # – Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.

CCOs often ask me to recommend consultants. When their aim is to reorganize their team or build its capabilities, upper 90 consulting is my first suggestion. Over the years, Mark has carved out a unique niche in this area – there’s really no one else like him. Invariably, it’s a win-win-win when I recommend Mark – the CCOs are satisfied, Mark’s grateful, and I’m happy to have arranged another successful “marriage.”

Ron CulpProfessional Director, Graduate PR and Advertising Program# – DePaul University

I’ve now retained upper 90 consulting twice, as the communication leader at two different businesses. Mark completely understands what we do, and he works quickly, in close partnership with us, to help us achieve our goals. It’s great to have a trusted advisor like Mark who listens carefully, makes sound recommendations and comprehends the evolving business needs we are trying to solve.

Michele MazurFormer VP, Communications & Public Affairs# – W.W. Grainger, Inc.

As a former management consultant, I know the value an objective external advisor can bring. Over several years at my former company, we benefitted from Mark’s experience, perspective and advice to make our fragmented global team more inclusive, aligned and valuable. I recently assumed leadership for a communication team at another company, and I will not hesitate to retain upper 90 once again, if the need arises.

Brett LutzVP, Global Communications# – Archer Daniels Midland Company

At my former company, Mark helped us to create Aspire, a unique operating system that brought greater definition and higher performance to our team. So in 2018, when I joined nVent, I quickly asked Mark to help us assess what the business needed from our function and to develop a plan to deliver that. He worked quickly, and we’re now building our capabilities through a strategy he helped us develop.

Jill SalettaVP of Communications# – nVent

I lead a decentralized team of 200+ communicators in a highly complex organization. What works in some fields can easily backfire in mine. In some recent work, Mark was able to embrace our organization’s operating culture and to recommend practical solutions that will work here. He helped us to get on a path that will make us more effective and efficient over time.

David SandorSVP, Communications and Public Affairs# – Emory University

Ecolab’s global communications team had grown organically and was not functioning optimally. Through a thoughtful process that involved the whole team, Mark helped us think through how we could strengthen our ability to deliver value to Ecolab, drive an integrated communications program and shift more resources to external-facing initiatives to build recognition for Ecolab’s expertise. The new organizational structure focuses our people more tightly on the most important work while providing new opportunities for collaboration and personal development. Mark’s ability to combine his deep understanding of the communications function in general with the specifics of Ecolab’s situation guided us to the right structure to enable our team to excel. I couldn’t have done it without him.

Kari BjorhusVP, Global Communications

Mark is a thought leader on high performance in communication teams. His insights are especially valuable at a time when the practice of communication is changing dramatically. I’ve been pleased to partner on research with Mark given his years of experience and corresponding insights and visionary view of the field. Our collaboration on this practical research will help to define the drivers of high performance in communication teams today and, in turn, advance the profession.

Tim Penning, Ph.D.Professor of Advertising/Public Relations# – Grand Valley State University School of Communications

We would love to hear from you

  • @u90consulting
  • facebook.com/upper90consulting
  • linkedin.com/upper90consulting

PHONE
(616) 401.5260

ADDRESS
P.O. Box 798
Ada, MI 49301
USA

© Copyright 2020 - upper90 consulting. All rights reserved.
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Mail
Scroll to top