First MonthsFirst months
The danger to company culture that lurks beneath the waterline
- Published on 3 Oct 2014
- Helene Vermaak
Leaders tend to focus on obvious issues and often fail to account for the underlying ones that cause irreparable damage. Strategy sits above the waterline and everyone in an organisation is aware of it. However, it is what lurks beneath the waterline that should be concerning management as this informs the company's culture.
Corporate culture and sustainable competitive advantage
- Published on 1 Oct 2014
- Abe Thebyane
John Kotter and James Heskett - in their book Corporate Culture and Performance -researched 207 large US companies in 22 different industries over an 11-year period. They found those companies that actively promoted constructive cultures saw revenue increases of 682% over that time versus 166% at companies that did not manage their cultures well. Corporate culture is vitally important to a business' sustainability because it is a key contributor to organisational performance. As Peter Drucker puts it, "Culture eats strategy for lunch".
Performance management: Roots of poor performance
- Published on 1 Oct 2014
- Frew Murdoch
Despite the increased focus on employee management efforts in recent years, poor performance still plagues employers. Performance problems slow down productivity, decrease morale and take up the valuable time of HR professionals and managers. Even worse is that poor performance can eventually result in employment terminations and be a reason for additional recruiting and hiring costs. The best way to deal with poor performance is to stop it as soon as possible by identifying the reasons behind it. Keep reading to find out the main cause behind poor work performance.
Business partnerships can be successful for couples
- Published on 30 Sep 2014
- HR Pulse News Desk
Although there are limited statistics related to married couples owning businesses together, recent studies indicate that there has been a significant increase in small, family-owned businesses over the past decade. Running a business together provides employment opportunities in a tight labour market, but it also gives couples an opportunity to embrace a more flexible work/life balance.
How did you celebrate culture and diversity this Heritage Month?
- Published on 29 Sep 2014
- Paula Teigao
Last week, we celebrated Heritage Day and were encouraged to celebrate our cultural traditions that make up the rainbow nation that is South Africa. When we think 'heritage', the following words come to mind: history, diversity, upbringing, tradition, culture and transformation. All of these words give us a sense of pride and hope. What stands out for me is 'transformation'. South Africa is a diverse nation and although we still have a long way to go, we have become more accepting of each other's differences. This translates into the training space as well.
