Performance support Clear advantages
As well as benefiting companies and the environment, performance support offers clear advantages for individuals, whether employees or customers. For example, it can reduce stress and satisfaction by making it easier for people to undertake difficult activities and increase their understanding, confidence and competence.
Manoj Sonawala, General Manager and Company Secretary of Tata Services, called for governance to be principle based rather than rule based and capable of being understood by every employee. Complexity need no longer be a barrier. The use of clear explanations, animations and graphics in performance support can help people to comprehend quite intricate areas.
Lord Desai and Geoffrey van Orden MEP stressed the importance of changes that have a clear and tangible impact on people’s lives. Mutual benefits such as those offered by better performance support can help to rebuild trust and the credibility of business and government. Vindi Banga, Senior Partner of Clayton Dubilier and Rice, pointed out that these have been eroded. Uma Shanker, Secretary of the Government of India’s Ministry of Power, reminded delegates of the importance of the state sector. Employees and their managers in the public services also face sustainability and affordability challenges. In my report Transforming Public Services, I set out an affordable route to high performance public organisations for those charged with their governance. In many countries there is a particular problem with healthcare as people live longer with long-term conditions. Evaluation of early adopters of a Psoriasis support tool has found a significant increase
in the ability of sufferers to self-care and manage their own condition. Such an example suggests a huge potential for helping people to adopt healthier and more sustainable lifestyles.
Paul Moxey of ACCA pointed out that human beings are not machines. Hence ‘new governance’ and ‘new leadership’ look beyond structures at behaviours. Professor Mervyn King and Peter Madden stressed the extent to which the planet’s population is set to increase. If it is to accommodate them behaviours must change. Better support can make it easier for people to adopt sustainable behaviours and discourage or prevent unsustainable ones. Baroness Verma called for business leaders to challenge corporate processes and the status quo. She emphasised the importance of people in organisations. Like Sushma Berlia, President of the Apeejay Stya and Svan Group, she stressed the need to bring together social, economic and environmental issues. By presenting relevant considerations as, when and wherever the need for action or a decision arises, practical performance support can give people the integrated help they require.
Challenges also present opportunities for the entrepreneurial to develop practical solutions. The potential in renewable energy was explained by Najmal Hasan of the University of Greenwich to delegates visiting the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site. Duncan Hames MP had pointed out that a half of large scale investment in the UK in the years ahead would be energy related. Dr Wim Vanderkerckhove of the University of Greenwich pointed out that whistleblowing could be applied to breaches of
governance and sustainability rules and requirements. Other convention speakers highlighted the benefits of better information and the advantages of integrated accounting. Will this be enough? What additional action should boards take with the resources at their disposal? Directors should consider ‘new governance’ and ‘new leadership’. While Lord Giddens warned delegates to “run a mile” from books advocating single solutions, the evidence examined suggests wider adoption of performance support could contribute to sustainability. It can address the complexities many people face, cut across silos and bring together what is needed to address an issue or take a decision.
Overall the London Global Convention 2012 from the opening business meet at the Royal Overseas League, through the sessions at Lords cricket ground to the study visit to the University of Greenwich and Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site represented an opportunity for business leaders to network, share their experiences, learn from leading authorities and discuss challenges faced by their boards. Participation in such IOD India events shows a commitment to continuing professional development which is a hallmark of the competent corporate director.
Management Services Winter 2012
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About the author Professor Colin Coulson- Thomas, author of Winning Companies; Winning People and the theme paper for the London Convention, has undertaken a five year study of how best to transform corporate performance. An experienced adviser, NED and board chairman he has helped over 100 companies to improve director, board and/or corporate performance, and spoken at over 200 national, international and corporate events in over 40 countries. A part-time academic at the University of Greenwich and an adjunct professor at Manipal University he has held professorial appointments in Europe, North and South America, the Middle East, India and China. He can be contacted via www.
coulson-thomas.com. His latest books and reports can be obtained from www.
policypublications.com.
“Better support can make it easier for people to adopt sustainable behaviours and discourage or prevent unsustainable ones.”
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