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When a company changes the executive and senior management team you have a massive restructuring of the company underway. Whether or not CEO Stephen Elop can effect a turnaround is another story.

I saw this coming as soon as Elop was brought on board. When a company like Nokia brings in an outsider, you know there is “trouble in “River City”.

The challenges facing CEO Elop are numerous. I have no inside information. However, technology companies going through the pains of market change like Nokia all face similar troubles.

Nokia does not have a coherent strategic business plan, market plan, or even a technology roadmap. Just saying they need a smart phone does not make a strategic plan, market plan, or technology roadmap.

The reason for changing leadership is simple. True corporate change must occur at the top before any other organizational changes. The reality is that in order for a company to make a massive shift in direction the top needs to change. Will there be changes throughout all of the organizations, all the way down to junior staff? Not initially but the changes will occur.

The problem Stephen Elop has is that he has a single calendar year to make significant enough inroads in the turnaround to avoid being targeted by shareholders for the unemployment line himself. I am not saying he has to completely turnaround the company, I am stating Mr. Elop needs to show progress.

Can Stephen Elop do the job? Frankly, I have no clue. Stephen Elop is from Microsoft and as far as I can tell he has never performed a turnaround. Then again, he did use to run Juniper Networks so he does know the telecom business.

The one thing I am pleased with is the speed in which the change is occurring. This is a good sign; it means Mr. Elop is taking quick action. Is it decisive action? That depends on what happens next.

By the way dumping the Symbian platform is not the answer; it is part of the answer but so much more needs to be done to turnaround Nokia.

People who are experienced in leading companies should lead turnarounds. Typically, the skills needed to turnaround a company can be applied across multiple industries. The most important thing for a turnaround professional to do is to surround yourself with the right people. So I am hoping Stephen Elop is surrounding himself with the right people.