From October 1996

Competitiveness

No matter how good our businesses or organisations are today we need to make them better: The "truth" today is that:

• Customers are increasingly demanding
• Competition is increasing fierce
• Markets are increasing changing

It does not matter how big or small your organisation, or your area of operation, you should be continually thinking about how to ensure your business remains special.
In short you need to develop the characteristics of a winning business which have recently been found to:

Be led by visionary, enthusiastic champions

• Who have a vision that is owned throughout the organisation
• Who build realistic but demanding targets into the business strategy
• Who develop an open and communicative management style
• Who focus on their customers

Know their customers:

• Not just their current needs but their future needs also
• Have a realistic understanding of their customers
• Know their market drivers
• Focus on partnership arrangements and "win - win" situations

Unlock the potential of their people

• Empower employees
• Simplify internal systems
• Communicate company performance
• Encourage a team approach to working
• Train at all levels
• Benchmark performance for improvement

Deliver products and services that exceed customer expectations

• Adopt a total quality philosophy
• Measure customer perceptions
• Deliver continuous improvement
• Seek continuously to reduce customer costs
• Develop partnership arrangements with suppliers

Continually introduce differentiated products and services

• Have a product after next philosophy
• Exploit new technology or legislation to drive new product innovation
• Customise the products and services provided
• Copies of "The Winning Report" can be provided by Statius on 020 8460 3152