Following a restructure from state-based business to a national business, this client in the mining industry wanted to gain synergies from a centralised approach.
Personnel were unclear about their roles & responsibilities. Nobody knew ‘who did what.’
Safety was potentially compromised because suitably qualified personnel weren’t always available when required.
Personnel struggled to see a clear career path within the business and turnover was high.
Approach
We began by listening to the challenges from the perspective of the decision makers in the business and clarifying the outcomes they wanted to achieve.
With the client’s cooperation we conducted background research to establish the current status of their workplace structures. We designed and ran a full-day workshop with key stakeholders to work through possibilities for the new structure. As an outcome of the workshop a standardised structure was agreed upon by these key stakeholders.
In consultation with the client we designed the documentation relating to the new structure including the organisational chart, position descriptions and a skills matrix.
We also designed supporting materials, which were sent out to a wider group of on-site stakeholders for their feedback. We assessed this feedback, then designed and ran a second full-day workshop to finalise the approach to rolling out the new structure across all sites nationally.
Outcome
Standardising the workplace structure improves the quality of work by ensuring that the necessary skills mix is present.
The workplace is safer because personnel are competent & authorised for their role.
Workplace stress and conflict are reduced because personnel are clear about their roles & responsibilities.
Turnover is reduced because employees can see a clear career path within the business and know the skills and experience that are required to follow it.
