During the late 1990s, one of the world’s best‐known police forces was trying to engineer a total cultural change initiative. It appeared, superficially at least, to be a fairly textbook process. This was not, however, the case. Towards the end of the assignment it became apparent that the...

For Jumbo Jet pilots certain information is crucial. They would not take off in a plane whose fuel gauge goes on only when the tank is empty even if they were supplied with plenty of other flight information such as the position of first‐class seats. The key to success for every pilot is to...

When things were looking particularly bleak last year for UK politician, Ian Duncan Smith, a national newspaper came up with some joke headlines. These impossible stories were, the paper suggested facetiously, more likely than the Conservative Party Opposition leader ever becoming the UK Prime...

In today’s highly competitive business environment, all functions in an organization are increasingly expected to justify their existence by the contribution they make to that organization’s competitive advantage. This is especially true for administrative functions: traditional perceptions...

Burn‐out is a costly and distressing phenomenon, which damages both individuals and organizations. Employees feel undervalued and frustrated, the quality of their work deteriorates, and ultimately they may leave the organization. If companies could recognize the signs and causes of burn‐out,...

Dejando huella, the concept of leaving a legacy for all to see, has helped to establish a culture of success at a plant in a border area known for cultural clashes, discrimination, stereotyping, workplace conflict and language difficulties. Established in April 1992 as an automobile airbag and...

Getty Images believes that the Internet is the only way to reach a worldwide, disparate and multilingual employee group. Information technology is beginning to enable the company to deliver state‐of‐the‐art HR services. The company is a market leader in providing visual content primarily...

Fiscal experts point out that no individual nation, no matter how apparently buoyant its economy, can be impervious to the world financial climate. By the same token, major corporations have to be aware that they ignore changing international economic forces at their peril. Gazing into its...

While the name Unilever is familiar to most people, its size takes some grasping. There are 300 operating units in 88 countries and more than 1,000 strong successful brands, which are marketed in more than 150 countries. Its pre‐packaged branded foods are household names, though many will be...

Increasingly, the pressure points on a business are to do with people – from skill shortages to performance and leadership issues. In response to such pressures, many organizations are turning to behavioral training to build core values for the future. A good example is...