Our Most Important Asset
The pace of business, the competition and the customers drive the need for staff to be responsive and innovate. Some companies believe that the development of the workforce is crucial to meeting the challenges of business today.
Event Held on 16th November 2006
Interviewees:
- Howard Baggaley, executive chairman, Baggaley Construction
-
Peter De Frank, executive vice president,
Key Messages
Business Strategy
- Stick to the core business
- Seek new markets
Business/Founder Values
- Treat the business as your family
- Walk the talk
- Show respect for people
- Be passionate about the company
Business Development
- Price is not the only differentiator – quality, relationships, environment and safety matter
- Driven by customer assessment of the service
- Build trust with potential major customers
- Develop credibility in the market place
Product Development
- Manage and deliver the product or service the customer wants
- Ensure sub-contractors and suppliers deliver
- Do more construction work off-site – component based assembly
- Must meet customer expectations
Drivers of Innovation
- Use accreditations like IIP and BS 5750 to reflect and learn
- Working with customers and suppliers to gain share
- Staff encouraged to drive innovation
Company Culture
- Develop partnership and gain share with staff, suppliers and customers
- Have an interest in and commitment to the workforce
- Retain all customers for repeat business
- Incentivise staff – teams and individuals
- Promote only if customers are being satisfied
- Need to have fun
Business Skills and Competencies
- Training and qualification is important for all
- Staff must be properly equipped and briefed
- Good work ethic is an important ambition but not essential
- Managers must be trained and helped to change culture
- Give recognition awards for what is important – safety, long service, performance
- Need good and fair appraisal and salary increase systems
- Need to merge company plans with peoples' aspirations
- Good performers who leave are always welcomed back
- Take on good trainees
- All managers develop through the company from trainees
- Managers are coaches and developers
- Ensure a good work/life balance