Continuous learning

Skills development is key at Pétanque: we continuously drive our organisation-wide and individual learning by formal training as well as internal knowledge-share. Because we all work at different locations in our ‘virtual office space’, we use our internal weekly newsletter to share news that we’ve picked up. This is an effective way of out-of-the-box learning, as each of us comes across different sources of knowledge in our projects. Read about our favourite resources later in this En Route.

We’ve also integrated professional learning in our service offer. Firstly, because many clients expressed an interest in learning how to apply VizPro® to maintain the process maps that were developed. Secondly, VizPro® training enables you to become a VizPro® Process Architect. A VizPro® Process Architect is proficient in applying the methodology, facilitating workshops, mapping processes, and managing VizPro® projects. View the training programme here. 
 

The Four Pillars of TACT

When faced with the business challenge of keeping a talented and diverse team together with clearly defined company values, but all of whom work from “satellite” offices and so do not see each other every day it poses the interesting question of, “How?”

Key to Pétanque’s success has been the introduction of a company team value support system based on the word “TACT” – Teamwork, Accountability, Communication and Trust – and this now forms the foundation for the team to be able to interact effectively with each other in an open and honest way.

Yvonne Finch, from Yvonne Finch Consulting introduced this foundation under the umbrella of what she calls “The Four Pillars for Effective Teamwork” and has been working with the Pétanque team members to establish methods that support individual and team growth through embracing the Four Pillars – TACT.

Getting individuals to recognise the importance of effectively participating in a team, of what it means to be accountable, not just in the delivery of what is expected from the job that we do, but in the way we interact and support others within the team, of not being frightened of enjoying honest communication, sometimes having to offer negative feedback so that others can grow, can only be achieved when the team is working within a trusting environment.

During the past 6 months the Pétanque company team members have participated in two developmental workshops that Yvonne designed to assist them in being able to successfully sustain their long distance working relationships and yet at the same time be able to give and receive developmental feedback without it impacting negatively on the individuals, the business and in the delivery of the highest standard of work output for clients.

The sessions have been interactive and fun, they have tested established thought processes and confronted fears and enabled every participant to learn from and grow with the process.

TACT is now a sustaining force within Pétanque – one that every team member embraces and enjoys for the freedom it brings.

Please contact us if you would like to get in touch with Yvonne.
 

Strategic Planning – The Road Map

VizPro®, our business process mapping and analysis methodology, defines the processes needed to achieve strategic objectives. Each process is developed to ensure that it supports strategic goals. In addition: VizBiz™ is what we apply to define strategy and present vision, strategy, goals, plans and tactics in storyboard format. This business road map details where the business is heading to and what needs to be done to get to that future point. The Strategic Road Map is developed in interactive worksessions, using fun and easy to follow graphics. Read more about strategic planning here.
 

True Confessions of a Project Manager

By MJ Fick

When I was growing up, I was a pretty “good” kid, but even the best of kids have naughty times and do things that get them into trouble. I soon learnt that if I “confess” the punishment was far less severe than when I was found out. So it is with project management and keeping project schedules on track. One of the biggest frustrations of a project manager is to find out at a weekly meeting that a critical item on the schedule has fallen behind by several days. The answer to this is not to micromanage the team. The answer is pure and simple teamwork. Let your project team know at the start of the project that early confessions will be rewarded, not punished. A PM’s role is not to apportion blame when things go wrong but to act swiftly and quickly to assist the team to bring things back on track. Support the team, and they will support you.
 

ITWeb BPM Summit 2009

This BPM highlight of the year takes place 25-27 August 2009 at Montecasino. Two conference days are packed with presentations by 24 leading BPM professionals including 13 case studies. Our MD Dr. Michélle Booysen and Marietjie Lancaster, Group Executive: Strategy, SA Post Office, will be presenting the following topic at this conference:

Exploring the potential role of unstructured processes and content in BPM

	Identifying the unstructured processes in your organisation that would benefit from BPM
	Recognising the benefits of including unstructured content into your processes
	Examining how to combine unstructured and structured content to deliver performance improvements

Post conference workshops on day 3 are designed to be smaller, more informal and interactive, to consolidate and deepen knowledge gained at the conference. View the full conference programme here.
 

Our favourite resources

MJ: “TechRepublic.com caters mostly for IT people and has a wealth of free information that spans all IT disciplines. I’ve been a subscriber to their newsletters for many years and have learnt a host of tips and tricks on project management and MS Office.”

Sharon: “RainToday.com is an excellent web resource for information and ideas in the professional services growth strategy, lead generation, marketing, and sales.”

Michélle: “I learn from the LinkedIn discussions in the various groups that I’m member of at LinkedIn.”

Justin: “A client of ours gave all its Senior Managers a copy of The One Minute Manager by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson. He was so kind to also offer me one. I read it in one breath; the core idea is that people are the most relevant resource of every company, and I strongly agree.”

Jeanne: “The applications that we use have so many functionalities that we are not aware of, that I’m very happy with the Microsoft tips for home and business use. These updates from Microsoft give you quick and easy explanations of how to work faster, smarter, and how to keep your machine in tip-top shape. Subscribe for home tips here, and for business use here.”

Elisabeth: “I subscribe to many blogs, but one of my favourites is Ideate – Small Business in South Africa, where: ’Passionate entrepreneurs share stories, adventures and lessons in their quest to do great business on the Dark Continent.’ Some of their posts are just fun, but it’s mainly about how you run your business professionally and deliver outstanding service.”
 

BPM & Workflow Handbook

A book for business people who want to understand the how and why of process automation and integration in simple non-jargon terms. View the full overview and table of contents with comprehensive abstracts of each chapter each chapter here. Those topics highlighted in yellow can be downloaded from the website for free. We are proud of our contribution to the book (chapter 6), in collaboration with SA Post Office.  Special thanks goes to Ms. Marietjie Lancaster (SAPO) and Ms. Carien Venter (SAPO) for their contributions to make this happen. For more info about the book, or to order, visit the website. You stand the chance to win a copy of this book by participating in the En Route survey that we’re sending you next week!

Blog

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Our Clients

View our corporate CV here.

Offices

The Colosseum
Foyer 3, 1st Floor
Century Way
Century City
Cape Town
Tel: 0861 PTNQUE (786783)
(international: +27 21 5260473)

Download the directions to our office here.