SECTOR FOCUS: ENTERPRISE


Building pride – Do we even think about it?


By Prof Sharon Turnbull Head of Research www.leadership.org.uk


In our present age of austerity, company celebrations and team building in UK companies are all too rare. Leaders feel reluctant to be seen spending money on staff events when customers perceive price increases, and shareholders are experiencing a decline in ROI.


In Asian companies,


however, leaders see it as a vital part of their role to build deep relationships with their employees through frequent celebrations of success, and displays of camaraderie often extending well beyond official working hours. In Asian companies there is a well understood need that both success and innovation is built through high performing teams.


I believe building


organisational pride, despite the economic environment, can be fostered by leaders through a range of sustained activities. In summary, I would urge leaders who seek to develop pride for organisational performance to:


1. Encourage employee participation in the company’s knowledge creation processes.


2. Create a strong and clear sense of balance in the company’s stakeholder management, including a focus on employees as a vital stakeholder.


3. Maximise learning and growth through leaders and teachers.


4.Celebrate success and building teams.


For more information and greater insights please visit my blog at www.leadership.org.uk /blog/page:2


44 CHAMBERLINK OCTOBER 2012


SPONSORED BY: THE LEADERSHIP TRUST FOUNDATION


The latest residents of Birmingham Science Park’s newest workspace, ‘Tech Tropicana: Where the Wi-Fi is free’, strut their stuff with Nick Holzherr (third from right), co-founder of Whisk


Tech Tropicana wi-fi’s free B


irmingham Science Park has unveiled a workspace aimed at whizz-kid entrepreneurs, called ‘Tech Tropicana’. The refurbished 4,500sqft workspace – on the


first floor of a building in Venture Way – houses six offices, a kitchen area, a ‘hot-desking’ room and offers free wi-fi. The workspace was designed


by the science park’s property and maintenance team and its first occupant, Hobzy.com, a social network which focuses on people’s hobbies and interests. Hobzy co-founder Alex Major said: “Being able to design and create our own workspace at Birmingham Science Park has been a challenging and rewarding labour of love. “Tech entrepreneurs work best in a collaborative


‘Birmingham’s tech scene is thriving right now’


“The space has already inspired us – we have


environment with like-minded people who are all in the same boat. The other essentials are an excellent broadband connection and affordability. Tech Tropicana hits the nail on the head.” Also taking up residence is online food shopping


installed a big dining table and chairs, so that we can cook for each other in true Whisk spirit.” Science park chief executive Dr David Hardman said: “It has been a positive experience to engage with our entrepreneurs to undertake this refurbishment programme, which is within one of 11 buildings across the Science Park. “We want Birmingham’s tech entrepreneurs to have a sense of ownership for what is happening here, and the creation of Tech Tropicana has embraced that head-on.”


Business data at your fingertips


Specialist SME business improvement company Modus IT has launched an analytics tool specifically for smaller businesses to enable them to harness their business intelligence and work smarter. The out-of-the-box software, called Acumen, is a practical, in-depth analytics system that when combined with user’s expertise can enable an SME owner to make better decisions – all without needing specialist staff to implement and manage the system. Acumen puts users in control, providing real time information about their


business’s performance and allows them to focus on the areas requiring attention. The system also produces full documentation to support sales meetings, board meetings and key management decision-making. Peter Ford, director of Modus IT, said: “Improvements in the ability to


predict performance offer managers the most valuable commodity of all – time to think and act. Gaining insight from data and translating that into effective, timely decisions is increasingly separating the best from the rest.“ Modus IT specialises in delivering invaluable information from the data hidden within business systems. It’s presented so you can easily apply your knowledge; fact based analysis of what you can do to control risks and maximise your success right now. The results are up to date so you can plan things in real time.


Peter Ford, director of Modus


‘Acumen puts users in control’


business Whisk. Company co-founder and finalist in the BBC’s The Apprenice, Nick Holzherr said: “Being a founding tenant at Tech Tropicana at the Science Park, we really feel like we’re in at the beginning of something amazing. “Birmingham’s tech scene is thriving right now, and to have a space that we can call our own, and welcome other emerging tech start-ups will be great for both Whisk and the city overall.


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