Eikelenboom Organization & Advisory
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Strong in strategic management
About E-OA:
Dr. drs. Bart Eikelenboom has a master in public administration (University of Twente, 1992) and a master and Ph.D. in business administration (Erasmus University Rotterdam, 1992 and Nyenrode Business University, 2005). Since 1995, he is working as a management consultant and (interim, program and project) manager. In 2005 - after completing his Ph.D. research at the Strategy Center of Nyenrode - Eikelenboom Organization & Advisory (EOA) was founded. Typical of his interdisciplinary background is the connection of disciplines: looking beyond the boundaries of functional areas in order to solve problems better and to manage organizations better. With a passion for strategic management. Enthusiastic, connective, human- and result-oriented. The 'hedgehog principle' is one of the most important predictors of the success of companies, according to Jim Collins ('Good to Great', 2001).
It consists of three 'circles': 'What is your passion', 'What can you be best at?', and: 'What fuels your economic engine?'. Having a very clear picture of one’s ‘core’ of these three circles is an empirically-founded basis for the competitive advantage of a company. This 'hedgehog principle' can also be applied to someone's personal life (to make it personal, the last circle has been changed to 'What is your contribution (legacy)?'). So applied, Bart discovered his hedgehog principle on April 11, 2019. All the loose ends came together, see for an overview here.
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It is striking what a glaring need there is, for exactly that support for the management of companies that is in line with the conclusions of my research: if (top) management creates an organizational context that includes both the aforementioned 'hard' and 'soft' support to employees, the best (financial) results are achieved. Hence the logo of E-OA of geese flying in V-formation. This flight method of geese results in: (1) 'hard', structural efficiency through wind economy (if each goose moves its wings, it creates an 'air lift' for the bird immediately following) and a (2) 'soft', positive enthusiasm by their continuous 'honking' (geese 'honk' from behind to encourage the geese in front to maintain their speed).
It is striking what a glaring need there is, for exactly that support for the management of companies that is in line with the conclusions of my research: if (top) management creates an organizational context that includes both the aforementioned 'hard' and 'soft' support to employees, the best (financial) results are achieved. Hence the logo of E-OA of geese flying in V-formation. This flight method of geese results in: (1) 'hard', structural efficiency through wind economy (if each goose moves its wings, it creates an 'air lift' for the bird immediately following) and a (2) 'soft', positive enthusiasm by their continuous 'honking' (geese 'honk' from behind to encourage the geese in front to maintain their speed).
That there is an enormous need for this, is illustrated by the main conclusions from this press release from the Arbo Service, The Nether- lands. See to the left, the main conclusions from the Occupational Health and Safety Union in The Netherlands.
“Over the past 20 years, the number of cases of burn-out has doubled. Meanwhile, a quarter of workers have stress complaints and this is becoming occupational disease number one in The Netherlands. The number of burn-out cases is increasing rapidly in more and more sectors and age groups. By 2030, 25% of workers will be less employable due to stress and overload. In order to solve the problem of stress: it is not about too much work or too many stressors, but about too few resources or buffers with which people can recharge or defend themselves. Too little autonomy and too not enough connection. Look for people's talents and skills. Trust the commitment and strength of employees and control much less. Give people the space and feeling that they are able to influence their own agenda. But above all: give compliments and appreciation and recognition”.
Source: press release Occupational Health Service, The Netherlands, 14-10-2019.
This solution for this ‘cry for help’ is confirmed by Henk Volberda, professor of Strategic Management at the University of Amsterdam (source: Financieel Dagblad, 15-4-2020):
Encouragement and joy in management and organization in order to achieve (more well-being, less control and a) higher business performance.
This is what your organization craves for and that is what E-OA supports. Ask your request for help here and indicate what you expect from me. I will respond as soon as possible and I would be happy to visit you for a free and no-obligation intake interview.