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: Customer Partnering - Leading Players

Founded in 1905 (in Richmond, Victoria), Ansell Occupational Healthcare has continued to innovate and grow while maintaining its core business focus. By 1955 they were exporting to the US, in 1965 were producing in the US and by 1989 had 18 worldwide manufacturing operations producing US$500 million p.a. in sales. Now with over 9000 employees they are the world market leaders in the design and production of industrial gloves and protective wear.

However, they get this month's tick for customer partnering - one of the reasons for their sustainable growth. This company does something worthwhile in reducing employee injury. So they went to their largest customer, Ford, and showed them how Ansell's products could not only enhance the finances of both companies, but also enable Ford to better meet its corporate responsibility for employee safety. Win-win-win.

Being proactive with advice and not just promoting sales, million of dollars and injuries were saved throughout 36 Ford plants, creating $10-20 million to boost declining sales for Ansell. CEO, Harry Boon, a 26 year Ansell employee says "A cut finger can cost $US2,500 in lost time and paperwork. If you can imagine a $3 or $4 glove could help prevent that, the economics start to become clear.”

The success of this philosophy will depend on whether the integrity of the motivation for the initial program gets lost in a push for unsustainable increased sales. However, they get full points for beginning right.

Explore more:

http://www.ansell-edmont.com/us/html/home.asp (homepage)

http://www.ansell-edmont.com/us/html/history.asp (history)

http://www.afrboss.com.au/magarticle.asp?doc_id=20805&listed_months=0 (the article)

Play of the Day: Local League - Tipu Ake Leadership Model

Well, its not exactly local, but its rare to see a leadership program that is truly holistic, so I had to share this. For those that would liek their leadership development to be more than merely management training, this Maori program shows what can be designed with a little thought and perspective. It separates the 'of-substance' from the 'off-the-shelf'. I'm impressed. (If you would like to know why, always happy to explain).

Read more at:

http://www.tipuake.org.nz/

Reflections in Excellence

The latest article is now available on-line. To go to there now just click Here.

Game, Set, (Mis) Match: Unproductive Winning
When we approach a competitive situation it is usually desirable to know how to win. By knowing the game play and being practiced in the skills required - winning then becomes easy. However, some games are not about win-lose scenarios. When the best outcome is unknown and must be discovered, a different approach may be required.

To go to this article just click Here.

No joke, this book of American Motivational Speakers greatest hits was published in the 80's when excellence concepts were on their first pass. With such a good title I couldn't pass it by when I saw it in a second hand book shop. Great wisdom in 10 pages or less. If only there was something linking all the good ideas and anecdotes together ;-) (Unbelievably it has been reprinted and can be yours at Amazon.com for $0.75)

Satire (just for a laugh)

Dow and Bophal - 'fake' site with subtle satire for the insightful: Click

"Predicting the future is easy. It's trying to figure out what's going on now that's hard."

Fritz R.S. Dressler

"It is not enough to recognise the many ways in which we are all different; we need to go further and start recognizing the many ways that we are also similar."

Ken Wilber

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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