A new training program for managers at UK retailer Safeway encourages participants to decide their personal direction without reference to the company’s interests, on the basis that the individual is more interested than anyone else in his or her own development. The Aspire! program, described...

A ward‐winning US company NYF has doubled its sales over the past three years and enjoyed massive growth thanks to a new program based on teaming and gainsharing. The privately‐owned distributor of electronic hardware, assembly components and mechanical fasteners achieved New Jersey’s...

When two firms of solicitors merged to form one of the largest practices in their town, integrating the various staff and partner skills was imperative, especially as the organization operated from two separate offices. The need to retain and improve the expertise that already existed was...

Intrawest’s Whistler and Blackcomb skiing resort needs 5,000 employees in the winter and only 400 throughout the rest of the year. Effective HR practices, however, help to ensure that a large percentage of the winter workforce is made up of returning hourly employees and volunteers. Moreover,...

There have been many examples of how various teamwork systems have improved an organization’s competitive edge and helped in reducing costs. There have also been many examples of how teamworking has, for various reasons, not lived up to expectations.

European pharmaceuticals‐distribution group Alliance Unichem is using 360‐degree feedback among its top managers to drive culture change, support employee development and increase overall performance. The 30,000‐employee company – which serves more than 81,000 pharmacies and other...

We listen hard and talk straight, with no sugar coating and no filters. Trust is impossible without early, accurate and reliable communication, so we strive for “brutal” openness and honesty. All of us know where we stand, face reality and act on it. We are open to ideas from everyone,...

A survey carried out among all 3,800 employees of a UK logistics and distribution business revealed generally high levels of employee satisfaction, but also opportunities to improve the working lives of employees and the profitability of the company. Founded in 1925, Palmer and Harvey, of Hove,...

Purpose – To review the implementation of e‐learning throughout the global operations of Cable & Wireless. Design/methodology/approach – The article is based on information provided by Cable & Wireless, and course supplier Thomson NETg. Findings – Cable & Wireless estimates that using...

Purpose – To provide a framework for how to conceptualize and create high‐performance environments (HPEs). Design/methodology/approach – The article concentrates on four key factors in the quest to establish an HPE: defining high performance; leading high performance; enabling high performance;...