Coming: ready or not
Trade with Asia Are Kiwi enterprises and managers sufficiently prepared to tap into new trade opportunities in Asia? By Reg Birchfield.
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uccess,” said the very fine Ameri- engineering consultants Beca prepare ment (IMD) released the results of its can illustrator Henry Hartman, their organisations well. Consequently, annual Global Competitiveness Survey. “always comes when preparation they succeed against the odds and win meets opportunity.” Intra-Asia global market share in even the toughest PERFORMANCE RANKING This survey is a performance ranking trade undoubtedly offers New Zealand economic conditions. enterprise some great future opportuniWinning performances must become of the competitiveness of 50-something ties. Many of them were identified at the the rule of New Zealand enterprise rather global economies. two-day Customs Brokers and Freight than the exception for the country to feel At the time of writing this year’s Forwarders Federation Conference the real benefits of the Asian opportunity. figures had not been released. But more (CBAFF) held in Auckland last month. But, unfortunately, there is a significant often than not, New Zealand slips a place But the New Zealand Institute of body of evidence about to support the or two each year. Last year we dropped Management’s question to the confer- contention that when it comes to best just one place to 21st. The year before, we ence was simple: Are Kiwi businesses practice management we are at best tumbled five slots. If we climb a few places this year it will be a welcome exception. sufficiently prepared to turn those op- mediocre. The IMD survey is a relevant and portunities into success stories? For example, just before this issue of Businesses are only as good as their NZ Management went to press, the Swiss- meaningful management performance people. And employees can only perform based International Institute of Manage- measure and shouldn’t be dismissed. It as well as their managers and direcshows how and why our managers tors allow. and business leaders are failing to Business is a team sport. To win, compete successfully with the rest every member of the team must be of the world. The following nine factors are the key drivers of managefit for purpose; have a game plan; be There are also other measures to ment capability measured in the New Zealand Institute of capable of executing the plan; and, consider. Back in 2010, government Management’s Management Capability Index. most of all, be motivated to perform. agencies including the Ministry of 1. Visionary & strategic leadership. New Zealand enterprise doesn’t Economic Development, Treasury, 2. Performance leadership. have a particularly good track record NZ Trade & Enterprise and the De3. People leadership. in high-performance management. partment of Labour jointly funded 4. Financial management. All Black rugby’s traditional obsessome important management re5. Product & service innovation. sion with first-class game preparasearch. 6. Organisational capability. It was undertaken by Sydney’s tion is seldom found in Kiwi board7. Application of technology & knowledge. University of Technology as part of rooms or executive offices. 8. External relationships. a worldwide study led by the London There are, of course, excep9. Integrity & corporate governance. School of Economics and global tions to this rule. Companies like consultancy McKinsey & Co. Mainfreight, Air New Zealand and
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A world of difference
16 | management.co.nz | JUNE 2012