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Human Resource Services

Viewing posts tagged Human Resource Services

25 Jan 2020

HR & Executive Recruitment: Organizational Improvement Initiative

By Arthur Elliott

Approach

Step 1: Organizational Assessment
  • 360° assessment of factors impacting performance
  • Diagnostic individual & team structured interviews, which found:
    • Lack of trust
    • Hoarding of information
    • Lack of shared goals
    • Unacceptable individual & group meeting behavior
    • Conflicting perception of goals
Step 2: Organizational Development
  • Group behavior improvement
  • Individual behavior improvement
  • Interdependence
Step 3: Organizational Design
  • Revised organization structure & reporting processes
  • Development & implementation of a new internal communications plan

Results

  • Follow-up surveys (individuals & group) reported significant improvement:
    • Cooperation
    • Information sharing
    • General trust
  • Dramatic improvement of key performance indicators (6 months later):
    • Time to market rate improved by 50%
    • Unwanted staff turnover was decreased by 15%
    • SG&A costs were reduced by 21% on an annualized basis
    • 18% reduction of inventory costs
    • Sales costs were reduced 14% due to improved expense controls
25 Jan 2020

HR & Executive Recruitment: Organizational Development

By Arthur Elliott

Background

A US privately-owned manufacturer of semi-custom industrial conveyor accessories had experienced a severe decline in performance over the last 3 years and was also unprofitable for the last 2 years. EWA was engaged to develop solutions to improve organizational efficiency.

Approach

Step 1: Comprehensive organizational assessment
  • Structured diagnostic interviews were performed with individuals, interdependent functional teams and department teams)
  • Observations were conducted of department teams, cross-functional teams and senior management interaction and interdepartmental communication
  • Information flow and reporting processes were also monitored
Step 2: Analysis of individual and group goals
  • Assessment analysis identified several key issues which negatively affected the company’s organizational effectiveness including lack of trust, hoarding information, no shared goals, specific non-constructive meeting behaviors, and overlapping perceptions of individual roles
Step 3: Development of corrective actions f to increase performance through improved interaction
  • Supporting groups and members to develop their interactive abilities, information sharing, trust and becoming more self-aware of their impact on others
  • Working with individuals on negative behaviors, being a better observer of how others reacted to them and self-tallying instances of back sliding
  • An internal event was conducted and all stakeholder viewpoints, inputs, finding and action steps were presented and discussed with the teams, new interaction norms were established and agreed and then teams were trained

Results

  • Company attained breakeven status at the end of the year
  • Sales grew by 10%
  • Time to market decreased by 50%
  • 15% reduction in staff turnover
25 Jan 2020

Risk Management: Investigation and Correction of Employee Trade Secrets Theft

By Arthur Elliott

Background

  • A manufacturer of specialty chemicals had lost 70% of company customer base due to TS theft
  • The previous Operations Director in China had removed electronic drawings and other IP over a 2-year period, set up a competing company and bribed the purchasing managers to move their purchases to his new company.
  • EWA was engaged to investigate the claim and develop counter-actions

Approach

Step 1: Risk Identification
  • Investigation and confirmation of the existence of the new company and the individual’s equity ownership
  • EWA obtained product samples and verified a trademark violation
Step 2: Risk Mitigation
  • Recruitment of local Chinese attorneys and the filing of a legal claim against both the company and the individual
  • The competitive office, workforce, sub-contractors and customer base visitors were investigated
  • EWA contacted the client’s original customer base to inform them of the various illegal actions and acts of corporate espionage
  • Legal proceedings cannot be disclosed due to confidentiality restrictions
Step 3: Long-Term Risk Prevention
  • Development of a comprehensive asset protection program

Results

  • 75% of the lost customer base returned to the client within 7 months
  • No new acts of corporate espionage or theft
25 Jan 2020

Risk Management: Joint Venture 360° Asset Protection Training

By Arthur Elliott

Background

A US Chemical company was negotiating a major joint venture with a local Chinese business partner and very concerned that asset theft could compromise sensitive merger negotiations.

Approach

  • Development and implementation of a comprehensive training program outlining the various aspects of domestic, foreign and state sponsored industrial espionage.
  • The training provided in-depth explanation of the following methods of corporate industrial espionage:
    • Office – physical and IT areas of exposure
    • Traveler’s computer/laptop/mobile device security
    • Areas of exposure – immigration, hotels, meeting rooms, etc.
    • Techniques imploded – Blackmail, Elicitation, Indigenous recruiting, Listening devices
    • Technical surveillance operations
  • Specific mitigation actions and tactics divided into before, during and after visit segments were presented to in-country staff and executive travelers

Results

The joint venture negotiations team implemented asset theft prevention measures and the negotiations proceeded without complications

25 Jan 2020

Strategic Business Planning: Brand Development

By Arthur Elliott

Background

A US manufacturer of large construction components for the Chinese market was interested in exploring the growing portable construction products industry. EWA was engaged to develop a strategic vision & implementation action plan to drive company growth.

Approach

Step 1: Comprehensive growth potential assessment
  • Market
  • Industry
  • Competitors
  • Customer base
  • Product offers
  • Technical requirements
  • Etc.
Step 2: Analysis to determine
  • The most profitable product segments
  • The strengths and weaknesses of the players in the end-product competitive environment
  • The end customer purchase behavior and decision-making influencers
  • The customer perceptions with regards to brands, products, service, post-sales support, distribution, sales channels, etc.
    • Finding: Significant growth potential…but various market specifics could present severe challenges to a successful company internal production approach
Step 3: Recommendation to produce end-products in cooperation with a local non-industry Chinese assembly company
  • Identification and qualification of a suitable Chinese assembly company
  • R&D briefing and consultation during product development
Step 4: Recommendation to conduct a test market in several key regions
  • Identification and qualification of distribution partner for test market launch

Results

  • After the successful completion of the test market, the client launched nationwide
  • 6% increase in company revenue within the first 24 months