Responsiveness and performance: transition management at the service of your success

The business world is constantly evolving. Businesses face ever more numerous and complex challenges, and must adapt quickly to remain competitive. In this context, transition management has become an essential solution to support organizations in their transformations, crisis management, unexpected departure of a key employee or period of change.

From the selection of an experienced executive (interim manager) to measuring the success of his missions in the company, discover how interim management has become important in the life of a company.

Definition of interim management

Interim management, also called “Interim Management” or “Executive Interim Management”, is a relatively recent practice whose origins date back to the 1970s.

Interim management is a managerial approach which consists of calling on an external expert for a specific period in order to manage a specific situation or a one-off project . This experienced manager brings his expertise and objective vision to help the company achieve its objectives.

Context and issues: why is transition management booming?

In the first half of 2023, the transition management market in France recorded an increase in turnover of 34% compared to the same period in 2022 according to the France Transition study .

The sectors of activity with the greatest demand for transition management are:

• industry (45.2%).
• consulting (19%).
• logistics (16.7%).

Interim management has experienced rapid growth in recent years. This trend can be explained by several key factors:

1. A changing economic context:

• Globalization and acceleration of change: Businesses operate in an increasingly complex and uncertain environment, where responsiveness and adaptation are essential.
• Economic crises and structural changes: Crises and economic changes weaken organizations and push them to rethink their strategy and their functioning.

2. Specific business needs:

• Shortage of talent and skills: Companies struggle to recruit experienced managers for one-off or complex missions.
• Management of critical situations: Faced with crisis, restructuring or change situations, companies need an outside perspective and in-depth expertise.
• Cost optimization and flexibility: Interim management allows companies to rationalize their human resources and adapt to their real needs.

3. A growing market:

• Growing demand from companies: The use of interim management is becoming widespread in all sectors of activity and of all sizes.
• Development of specialized firms: More and more consulting firms specialize in transition management, offering companies a wide choice of skills and expertise.
• Professionalization of the sector: The creation of associations and labels contributes to the professionalization of the sector and the enhancement of the skills of transition managers.

For the year 2024, forecasts are rather positive, with continued market growth.
In conclusion, the rise of interim management responds to a real need for companies facing a changing economic context and growing challenges . This flexible and effective solution offers numerous advantages and stands out as an essential alternative to support organizations in their transformation.

The missions of an interim manager

The interim manager intervenes in the company to carry out specific and strategic missions. Its scope of action is vast and can cover different key areas:

1. Lead and manage strategic projects

• Define the strategy and actions to be taken: The transition manager analyzes the company’s situation, sets objectives and develops a concrete action plan.
• Manage the implementation of the project: He coordinates the teams, manages resources and monitors the progress of the project.
• Ensure monitoring and evaluation of results: It measures the impact of the project and proposes adjustments if necessary.

2. Restructure the organization and teams

• Analyze the existing organization: The transition manager identifies the strong points and weak points of the organization.
• Define a new organization: It proposes a more efficient organizational structure adapted to the needs of the company.
• Supporting change: It communicates about upcoming changes and helps teams adapt to the new organization.

3. Manage conflicts and social tensions

• Identify the causes of conflicts: The transition manager analyzes conflict situations and understands their origins.
• Dialogue with stakeholders: It organizes meetings and negotiations to ease tensions and find solutions acceptable to all.
• Implement preventive actions: It proposes measures to prevent the occurrence of new conflicts.

In addition to these main missions, the transition manager can also intervene in other areas such as:

• Commercial development: Define a commercial strategy, prospect new customers, negotiate contracts.
• Human resources management : Recruit talent, develop team skills, manage careers.
• Internal and external communication: Improve communication between teams, disseminate information to customers and partners.

The profile of the transition manager is therefore multidisciplinary:

• Managerial and leadership skills: Have a strategic vision, be able to make decisions and motivate teams.
• Expertise in a specific field: Having in-depth knowledge of a sector of activity or a business function.
• Communication and negotiation skills: Knowing how to dialogue with the different stakeholders and find consensual solutions.
• An ability to manage change: Knowing how to adapt to complex situations and supporting teams in the transformation.

The areas of intervention of transition management

• Restructuring and transformation
• Change of direction
• Carve Out
• Merger-acquisition
• Job protection plan (PSE)
• Corporate crisis management
• International Development
• Talent shortage
• Maternity/sick leave

What are the advantages of interim management?

The interim manager, due to his prior experience, can focus on quickly resolving problems, optimizing processes and achieving specific goals.

The advantages of interim management are numerous:

• Benefit from cutting-edge and immediately available expertise.
• Gain responsiveness and agility.
• Optimize performance and results.
• Secure the transition and minimize risks.
• Control costs and budgets.

What is the cost of an interim manager?

The cost of an interim manager is generally expressed as an average daily rate (ADR) . This TJM varies depending on several factors:

1. Profile of the interim manager.
2. Type of mission.
3. Customer base.
4. Geographical location.
5. Legal status of the interim manager.

On average, the TJM of an interim manager in France is between €600 and €1,600, with an average of €1,259 per day.

The total cost of an interim management mission will depend on several factors:

• Manager’s TJM: The main factor in total cost.
• Duration of the mission: The number of days worked by the manager during the mission.
• Professional expenses: Travel, accommodation and communication costs charged by the manager.

It is important to note that the cost of an interim manager can be a profitable investment for the company.