Monday 20 November 2006

Business Leaders Discuss Management Excellence

Following another successful Management Excellence Awards program, the Australian Institute of Management spoke with senior representatives from business, industry and government about their thoughts on management excellence. This is what they had to say…

• John Hoey FAIM
  Regional General Manager Qld & NT, Commonwealth Bank

• James Bennett FAIM
  Director, CPX Printing & Logistics

• Professor Michael Powell
  Pro vice Chancellor (Business), Griffith Business School

• Catherine O’Sullivan FAIM
  Assistant Director-General for Regional Delivery,
  Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries

• Marion Barron
  Learning & Development Manager, Fisher & Paykel

• Rod Hockey
  Qld General Manager, WIN Television

• Jon Heslop
  Winemaker, Witches Falls Winery

Why has your organisation chosen to support the Management Excellence Awards?

JB (CPX): Printing & Logistics has a long-standing client/supplier relationship with AIM. The Institute has helped CPX understand the value of training and development of its greatest asset, CPX staff. The experience is humbling and the calibre of talented young people who come through the program never ceases to amaze me.

JH (CBA): The MEAs are recognised as providing a significant contribution to Queensland, and offering the recognition and support needed to ensure we continue delivering outstanding management. Overall, AIM and the Commonwealth Bank share similar philosophies, target markets and strategic objectives. This makes the Commonwealth Bank the right ‘fit’ as the 2006 Professional Manager of the Year Sponsor.

MP: The Griffith Business School has sponsored the Young Manager of the Year category for the past four years. The candidates for this award aspire to be leaders in their community and to be innovative business people, improving the environment in which they operate. These are ideals shared by the Griffith Business School and are the main reason why we have chosen to support the Management Excellence Awards.

CO: By aligning with organisations, such as the Australian Institute of Management, DPI&F is able to advance its goal of improving skills and the availability of labour across Queensland.

RH: As major media sponsor for the Management Excellence Awards seven years in a row, WIN Television ensured that managers in all communities across Queensland heard the call to stand up and be counted.

JH (WF): We believe that the philosophies that exist within the people that are vying for honours at the Management Excellence Awards are the same philosophies that have brought us success, and will continue to bring us success. At Witches Falls Winery we want to be associated with likeminded business people.

How does the culture of your organisation and the development of staff align to the experiences of an MEA candidate?

JB (CPX): CPX is still a very young company, in development and growth stages, I think the MEA experience consistently confirms the value of training and education. I feel the Awards also remind managers and owners of business the value of recognising innovation within their own environments.

MB: Right from its beginnings, Fisher & Paykel have fostered a culture where people and innovation can flourish. Many of our innovations have come from ordinary people working within a team, considering how to overcome design, process or system challenges...but they are not unsung heroes. They are recognised for their contribution and encouraged to pursue ideas to their completion.

MP: We believe business must be about innovation and leadership, so we seek out staff who not only believe this too, but who demonstrate it in their teaching, research and networking. These central values define what Griffith Business School is about and capture the synergies between the MEAs and the School, in terms of how we strive to recognise, develop and reward our people.

RH: As managers and staff of WIN Television there is a focus on developing a mindset that is focused on continuous learning and development. Continuous learning is a critical element to our culture. The training and development of our people is an investment in the future well being of our company. Each and every member of our team is provided with clearly defined and measurable goals, with a plan to succeed.

How do the ethos and services of your organisation relate to your sponsorship of the MEAs?

JH (CBA): Our aspiration is to be Australia’s finest financial services organisation will be achieved through excelling in customer service. Both the Commonwealth Bank and AIM strive to celebrate excellence and the focus on the contribution of the individual. The MEAs seek to recognise individuals who have excelled in their leadership and strive to be the best they can be. These attributes align strongly with our objectives to build a high performance culture.

MB: Fisher & Paykel is constantly developing new concepts, improvements that are cutting edge, challenging the thinking about what appliances are and what they can do. Managers who think and act outside the square, with the courage to challenge the norms, and who achieve outstanding results are encouraged and recognised.

CO: Improving skills and the availability of labour throughout regional and remote communities across Queensland is a key focus for the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. People living and working in remote areas make enormous contributions in advancing science, technology and innovation. DPI&F recognises that the potential exists to further improve and utilise this resource by working with industry to identify and meet current and emerging skills needs.

RH (WIN): Television is proud to again be the major media sponsor of the Management Excellence Awards program. As a major media sponsor of these Awards it showcases WIN’s commitment to ensure business leaders who help develop our communities are identified and celebrated.

JH (WF): We recognise that the quality of our wines and therefore our business success stems from our absolute commitment to being the best in everything we do. This does not happen by accident. Rather, it is all about excellent management. We think that it fantastic that AIM has instituted the MEAs as a way of recognising excellent management.

Would you recommend that more managers experience the Management Excellence Awards process? Why?

MB: Absolutely! Any manager who is nominated and applies for the MEAs has the wonderful experience of recognition by others and the opportunity for self reflection and self promotion (not always easy) of their contribution to a specific business and to the business world, Queensland’s and Australia’s success.

MP: Apart from a process that recognises and rewards excellence, it also provides an opportunity for potential candidates to undertake a process of self and peer evaluation, whereby an individual can identify personal and professional areas of strength, and focus on areas perhaps requiring development.

How has being a sponsor of the Awards program benefited your organisation, employees and/or clients?

JB (CPX): has enjoyed the experience. We are proud of what the Awards stand for…the process is very credible.

JH (CBA): The MEAs provide a unique opportunity for all people with management responsibilities to reflect on their individual journeys and to appreciate how they make a difference to business outcomes. It allows managers the luxury of a deep analysis of their capability to achieve results through their leadership style. In this fast paced world it is my experience that very few managers actually take time out to reflect on this critically important component of management.

MP: The Griffith Business School is constantly striving to strengthen its relationship with industry. Through the Management Excellence Awards we are able to do this through the many opportunities to network with like-minded organisations and individuals.

CO: Through sponsorship of the Rural/Remote Manager of the Year category, DPI&F promotes and encourages leadership and excellence in regional areas across Queensland. Promoting agriculture and regional careers as viable and attractive options to young people allows for regeneration of the workforce and contributes to the long-term profitability and sustainability for both primary industries and regional Queensland.

How does Fisher & Paykel’s commitment to innovation align with the criteria for which the Medal for Management Innovation is awarded?

MB: Fisher & Paykel’s Board of Directors actively encourage innovation, giving new ideas the time and capital to meet our long-term goals. We are encouraged to think outside the square then to work out the implementation. This approach is evident in our product range and is complemented by an ongoing commitment to research and development.