Insights Into Excellence

Forsyth Consulting Group is a strategic development consultancy.

The purpose of this publication is to share and integrate the insights into sustaining excellence that we discover through our work.

(Read more about FCG)

Sustainable Excellence: Social Responsibility- Leading Players

Founded in 1923, SAFECO (formerly General Insurance Company of America) claims to be 'one of the most consistently profitable diversified financial services companies in America'. Their turnover of $US6 billion annually comes from 17,000 partners and independent insurance agents. With historically a clear focus on their target market of individuals and small businesses, they make a profitable return in that part of the market others would consider unprofitable. SAFECO had a long history of being outstanding.

However, even the best lose the plot from time to time. In the honest and frank words of Michael McGavick, the new CEO, in his letter to stakeholders 'The 2001 financial results stunk ... and we warned the radical surgery necessary to get us back to excellence would be costly'. It was - with a $US 1 billion write down dropping 15 non-core divisions and 1200 people. But under new management and using old principles SAFECO has returned to profitability, while others merely complained about market conditions in a difficult sector.

Being honest about the tough issues, having consistency and focus in their approach and staying closely involved with their community is what sets this company apart from its competitors. With strategic management at the turning point a downward turn was caught before it was too late. However, it will be interesting to see if their 'return to excellence' is successful in the long term.

Explore more:

http://www.safeco.com/ - Homepage (check the slogan!)

http://www.safeco.com/safeco/investor/financials/annualrpt.asp# - see the 2001 Chairman's letter

http://www.safeco.com/safeco/about/giving/giving.asp - community and social responsibility programs

http://www.safeco.com/safeco/investor/pdfs/02q3_sup.pdf - 3rd quarter turnaround

http://www.effwa.org/budget_taxes/safeco.php - CEO speech (Five Keys)

Play of the Day: Local League

St John of God Health Care has operated in Australia for over a century and cares for 100,000 patients a year in three states. The organisation receives this month's Play of the Day because of the way it has approached maintaining and affirming its core values and principles while taking the organisation into this millennium of practice. Creating the governance structure to support this shows the sort of strategic insight that will lead to the sustainability of the organisation for another 100 years.

Read more at:

http://www.sjog.org.au/index.html

http://www.sjog.org.au/about/orgstuct.html

http://www.sjog.org.au/heritage/vision.html

Reflections in Excellence

Are You trapped in the Learning Paradox?

Our defense to the potential for embarrassment in learning something new is often to justify to ourselves that what we already know - is all that we need. The less we find out, the more we are justified in our belief that there is nothing knew to learn - and the less we find out. But how do we break this learning paradox?

To go to this article just click Here.

http://www.therapyfocus.com.au/

http://www.wrc.wa.gov.au/

http://www.albany.wa.gov.au/albany/frames.html

Henry Mintzberg, considered by some a heretic and others a guru, can only be respected for his depth of knowledge and perspective in the field of strategy. For those that still work with only one type of strategy formulation, an invaluable guide leading to an integrated approach is provided to us in Henry's latest book (co-authored with Ahlstrand and Lampel) in which the 10 schools of strategy are revealed with metaphor and humour. High level thinking with a bit of fun. :-)

Read more here:

Satire (just for a laugh)

Satirewire is no more (Sob!): Click

"The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time."

 

Abraham Lincoln

 

"There's never enough time to do it right, but there's always enough time to do it over."

Jack Bergman

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this edition. We hope it has been informative and worthwhile. If you know of someone who may be interested in these issues, please send this e-mail on  - and perhaps recommend they join the Leaders in Excellence Network using the members form at our website www.fcg.com.au.  If you have something of interest to contribute, please  emailus@fcg.com.au and share your knowledge. 

To unsubscribe at anytime just send an e-mail to unsubscribe@fcg.com.au. Forsyth Consulting Group makes no comment and expresses no opinion in relation to any of the policies, operations, securities or future prospects of the organisations mentioned in this publication. The specific examples identified do not provide an indication of the total activities of the organisations profiled and may not be current. Any content in this publication and its use is made subject to the legal notices set out in the Forsyth Consulting Group website (www.fcg.com.au/notes.shtml) For further information on any of the items mentioned, or our contact details, just emailus@fcg.com.au.

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