The Curse of Assumption

I’m sure you know the saying – Assume = makes an Ass out of U and Me, but it is very applicable in today’s recessionary environment.

Markets are tough, margins are squeezed, costs are being screwed down, and funnily enough customers are finding the same thing.

More than ever, now is a time to understand what your customers think of your organisation, your service, and how relevant your value proposition is to them now.

Many companies and executives have been focussed on managing costs over the last year or eighteen months, blindly carrying on business on the assumption that the offering to customers was still seen to be of value in the customers eyes. Yet most if not all of your customers circumstances will have changed through this recession, and therefore what matters to them now may be different to what it was. And how you perceive you differentiate in the market may no longer be relevant, or conversely, may be an even greater differentiator in today’s environment.
Making an assumption that your offering, the way you do business, and the value you provide is still what it was for your customers is highly likely to make a true Ass of you and your business.

It is not hard to ascertain what your customers and your competitors customers think of your organisation, your brand positioning and differentiation, and the value they see you provide to them – at Grafton Consulting Group we have been carrying out tailored customer survey and interview projects for customers big and small on an increasingly regular basis to provide independent input from the customer to you on what matters – and from that you can work up what to do with your business to ensure you create the best value for your customers that ensures retention and hopefully provides expansion opportunity.

There is no reason to be visited by the curse of assumption and be made an Ass of.

Andrew Nugent
Grafton Consulting Group
09 358 9751

 How can we assist your business?

By Paul Diver and Associates Limited

 

Employment agreements and policy documentation

We can assist new and existing businesses in the development of employment agreements and policy documentation specific to the needs of the business in question.

Our template documents have been developed by our team of expert consultants, who ensure that both legislative and best practise changes are reflected at all times.

In addition to the mandatory employment agreement, we strongly advise that employers should have in place and be familiar with- a robust set of house rules and a straight-forward, compliant performance management system- before they are needed.

As employment legislation and case law evolves continually, employment agreements and policy documents should become living, breathing documents. They need to be updated at least annually in accordance with legislative and best practice requirements.

 

Resolving Disputes

In the unfortunate event that there is a dispute in your workplace, we can assist you in creating a solution, irrespective of what stage you are at in the process. Specifically, we can assist with- facilitation of meetings, drafting correspondence, assistance with negotiation, direct negotiation and/or representation on behalf your business either at or prior to mediation or Employment Relations Authority proceedings. Our consultants are skilled in providing accurate risk analyses, guiding clients through the available options at each step in the process and creating solutions.

 

Restructuring

Businesses are generally entitled to manage their operations as they see fit. Whilst restructuring for genuine operational reasons will generally be held to be substantively fair, employers often fall down on process alone. It is therefore very important to get the process right to avoid a successful personal grievance claim. We can assist with- the development of documentation explaining the business case behind a proposal for restructure, customised guidelines documents to guide you through to the process, attendance and representation at meetings, and drafting of letters/other documentation throughout the process.

 

Union Matters

Do you know what to do when a union approaches your workplace? Do you know about access rights, on-site union meetings, initiation of bargaining for a collective agreement? Being a small business or a business that has never before been approached by a union, you may have no idea where to start. At Paul Diver & Associates, we are the experts in dealing with all things union-related. In the event that your business is approached by a union, seek advice from us as a first step – we can guide you through the process, ensuring your compliance. We are also skilled in advocacy and direct negotiation throughout the collective bargaining process.

 

 ICEHOUSE HR Partners adding value to the Alumni


The HR Partners – Grafton Consulting Group, Paul Diver & Associates and Kinross Partners are lifting the value add for alumni of ICEHOUSE programmes by putting together the HR Templates and a 0800 number (0800 423 458) for HR Assistance.

HR Templates – the HR Partners have put together a range of HR related templates that you will find useful in the day to day running of your business. The templates include:

  • Individual Employment  Agreement
  • Role Profile/Role Description
  • Director attribute checklist
  • Restructure Guidelines


Additional Templates will be added over coming months.

The templates are made available exclusively to alumni as part of the value add that the HR Partners are bringing to the ICEHOUSE. If you would like access to these templates, please contact Raewyn Goodwin, ICE Network Relationship Manager on r.goodwin@theicehouse.co.nz or 09 308 6216.

0800 number for HR Assistance – the 2nd programme is an ‘on-call’ HR assistance service during business hours. Call the HR help line 0800 423 458 which will be staffed by the HR partners and they will help you with the HR issue and/or question you have. If they can’t solve it for you on the spot, they will get back to you.

Just to remind you what the HR Partners do:

  • Grafton Consulting Group is all about “enhancing the performance of organisations and their people” and have successfully assisted many organizations achieve greater success by focusing on the alignment of people with the organisations strategy and customer value proposition. From Strategy development, HR strategy and execution, Organisation design and Outplacement to Insourced/Outsourced HR. This is what the Grafton Team are passionate about, and working with The ICEHOUSE to lift their clients achievement through growth.

  • Kinross Partners is a specialist executive search and recruitment firm that provides high quality leadership and management personnel in both permanent and contract roles. Their key focus is building management teams and boards for high growth companies and developing strong long term relationships with their clients.

  • Paul Diver and Associates Limited’s vision is to facilitate the creation of an environment for leadership and growth in business and employment relationships. Services include employment relationship planning, employment agreement development and bargaining, and resolution of disputes and grievances at a practical level.
     
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