9/30/25
Icelandic Meteorological Office: From Strategy Design to Organization-Wide Ownership
From Strategy Design to Organization-Wide Ownership
When the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) set out to renew its strategy, the goal was clear: create not only a plan, but a living system that unites science, people, and purpose.
In less than four months, IMO transformed its strategy into a shared language; designed collaboratively, cascaded through trained facilitators, and activated across the entire organisation.
Challenge
As Iceland faces rising environmental complexity, IMO needed a strategy that could match the scale of its mission: protecting people, nature, and infrastructure while strengthening public trust.
The leadership team recognised that success required two things:
A unified direction connecting scientific excellence with societal relevance.
A participative process that empowers every team to act on the strategy.
They were not looking for an external plan ,they wanted ownership, clarity, and rhythm across the organisation.
Approach
1. Co-creating the Strategy
Together, we designed a fully participative process built on inclusion, dialogue, and evidence. Over several months, leaders, scientists, and specialists engaged in interviews, surveys, and workshops.
From these sessions emerged the Guiding Lights: strategic priorities defining where IMO is heading and what success looks like. Each insight was shaped collectively, aligning institutional ambition with the everyday voices of those who make it happen.
Haukur Hauksson
Director of Communications, Icelandic Meteorological Office
“Marc’s superb coaching skills and support during the co-creation process of the strategy, that involved all our staff through numerous workshops, have been very valuable. His insights into team dynamics helped us strengthen our teamwork and alignment — something that will prove extremely valuable for the implementation and future success of the strategy.”
2. Building Cascading Capability
After co-creation, we shifted from strategy design to activation.
A network of internal facilitators, scientists, experts, and managers, was trained to cascade the strategy through structured conversations and localised priorities.
This created a self-sustaining capability: each facilitator became a multiplier of alignment, ensuring that strategy moved from paper to practice and remained adaptable across teams.
3. Bringing the Strategy to Life
The process culminated in an organisation-wide Engagement Day.
Each team presented its key findings and focus areas through interactive “stations,” allowing colleagues to move between them, learn, and connect ideas.
“A mosaic of teams and ideas — a melting pot of common discoveries and understanding. We got to know the why and how in each other’s work, and realised we are all in this together.”
— Haukur Hauksson
The result was a shared understanding of purpose and focus, paving the way for implementation and ongoing collaboration.
Outcomes
Unified Direction: IMO’s scientific, operational, and service units aligned under one narrative. The new strategy connects purpose, values, and measurable goals; understood and embraced at every level.
Accelerated Alignment: The complete cycle from design to launch was achieved in under four months, proving that inclusion accelerates execution.
Stronger Engagement and Trust: Employees reported higher motivation and ownership, seeing clearly how their work contributes to collective success.
Enduring Capability A trained facilitator network now sustains strategic dialogue internally.
Teams regularly revisit priorities, keeping the strategy relevant and alive.
Following the launch, IMO advanced naturally into a new Values Workshop, exploring what kind of organisation it needs to become to realise its vision.
This continuous loop of reflection and action has become the organisation’s rhythm for growth.
Hildigunnur Thorsteinsson
CEO, Icelandic Meteorological Office
“Both the process towards the kick-off and then the conversation during the day strengthened the alignment throughout the organization… even though we come at it from different directions, we are all working towards the same goals.”
Lasting Capability
The true legacy of this project is not only a well-crafted strategy, but a system that endures.
IMO now possesses the tools, skills, and shared mindset to connect strategy, culture, and daily execution; turning complexity into collective clarity.
“Marc is exceptionally organised, knowledgeable, and combines deep subject-matter expertise with the use of artificial intelligence. He places strong emphasis on leaving behind both knowledge and tools that are useful in the daily work of managers and staff members. His advice and skills have gone beyond expectations.”
— Borgar Axelsson, Human Resources Manager, Icelandic Meteorological Office
Results at a Glance
4 months from discovery to launch
100+ employees engaged through workshops and surveys
15 internal facilitators trained to cascade the strategy
Organisation-wide alignment achieved through the Engagement Day
Sustained cultural dialogue through ongoing values workshops
By combining scientific excellence with participative leadership, IMO has strengthened both its institutional resilience and its people’s connection to purpose.
Strategy has evolved from a static document into the shared language of collaboration, alignment, and impact.