Link: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_08/b4022074.htm

In a too-common mistake, it clung narrowly to its founding strategy instead of developing future sources of growth.

How is your organisation going?
Is it going to fall into the same trap?
Has the organisation as a whole given something like this much thought?
Maybe its time....

Link: http://davidmaister.com/articles/4/103/1/

David Maister's latest article argues that many firms are incapable of pulling off any strategy because their members have not yet decided if they wish to enter into a joint, collaborative activity-building for the future.

In many organizations, there are Mountain Lions who want to be independent and bet on their ability to "kill meat today." There are members of the Wolf Pack, who are prepared to collaborate, but only if it all pays off quickly. There are Beavers, who will patiently build for the future, but only for their own family. And there are a (small) group of Humans eager to collaborate in building for the future.

Which mix do you have?

Link: http://acetalentnet.com.au/The_Mediation_Explosion.pdf

Tim Connellan from Pacific Mediation explains how many major corporates and government departments are devoting more and more resources to ensuring the workplace is as harmonious an environment as possible.
This can be in the form of up skilling employees with in-house training or by engaging external consultants.

Mediation seems to have burst into the consciousness in recent times. Can you remember it being an option a few years ago but now it seems to be everywhere. Friends with marital disputes are going to mediation, the papers report workplace and commercial disputes solved by mediation and the TV news last week reported that the US and Iran are in mediation over their nuclear programme.

So what is Mediation?

Forgetting international disputes for the moment and focussing on the sort of dispute we might be involved in that traditionally might “go to court” or be resolved by a workplace enquiry or other process, it
may be easiest to explain what mediation is by asking this question: “If there were two methods of resolving a dispute, which would be preferable?”

Register for the upcoming Pacific Mediation Certificate in Mediation.

In addition to providing dispute resolution skills, it will improve participants ability to negotiate both on their own behalf or
when providing assistance for others.
By attending this workshop you will become competent and confident
to facilitate mediations.

This invitation provides all the details.

Link: http://www.acetalentnet.com.au/ikm.php

IKM and aCE talentNET will co-operatively introduce the benefits of knowledge measurement to organisations to improve resource productivity

Melbourne – Australia , February 8 th 2007. IKM, a leading provider of web-based employee and candidate knowledge measurement solutions and services, today announce a partnership with aCE talentNET, a consulting and solutions company specialising in project placements.

Used for pre-hire testing, pre- and post-training evaluation, skill audits, project resource planning, benchmarking and certification, IKM's assessments determine skills, knowledge, aptitude and attitude for most disciplines including IT, Sales, Project Management, ERP or Basic Computer Skills.

Through the application of knowledge measurement, organisations can more accurately pinpoint resourcing requirements and dramatically improve the bottom line.

With the ability to reduce hiring time by 55%, reduce training costs by 22%, reduce staff attrition by 15% or reduce the assessment development time by 95%, aCE talentNET will introduce IKM's assessments to its blue chip client base to improve resource productivity.

“aCE talentNET helps organisations meet business objectives through the timely provision of quality consultants. We see a great opportunity for our client base to further capitalise on the resourcing process through the use of knowledge measurement,” said Denise Hall, Director, aCE talentNET.

Unlike other solutions, IKM assessment methodology provides the greatest amount of feedback of a candidate's or employee's exact strengths and weaknesses in the shortest possible time.

“IKM's unique ability to produce a detailed view of knowledge levels ultimately facilitates better decision-making. Companies should take advantage of this to develop clear resourcing and educational strategies and design project teams that will deliver on time and on budget,” said Hall.

“IKM allows you to accurately plan and optimise the workforce. We are delighted to be working with aCE talentNET to introduce the benefits of knowledge measurement to the greater market,” said Frank Palinkas, VP Asia Pacific, IKM.

To participate on an information session or workshop that is hosted by acE talentNET and IKM, visit www.acetalentnet.com.au

Link: http://www.clomedia.com/content/templates/clo_article.asp?articleid=1696&zoneid=101

Imagine designing one of the best regional sales leadership training programs ever. The content is solid, assessments were done beforehand to determine competency needs, people signed up and many came to class on time. Then, the first question a learner poses is, “Why are we here?”

Has this ever happened to you?
How did you handle it?