High performers down under: lessons from Australia's winning companies

摘要

Taking organizations that are successful over the long term, and understanding the principles behind their success, provides some clear external validation of the management principles being espoused in the literature. The research covered by this paper has provided a clearer view of the essence of "winning" organizations in Australia. It is possible that the findings also provide a generic framework for organizational excellence in many overseas countries, cultures and business environments. Some of the keys messages that emerge include:rn1. Have a clear strategy. This does not necessarily mean expressing it as a mission or vision statement and it may be fuzzy at the edges to allow for incremental development.rn2. Develop a "cause" or a "core purpose" for the organization, something that people can identify with, well beyond their job or simply making a profit.rn3. Leadership is about teams, not individual leaders. In winning organizations, future leaders will come from within.rn4. Select people who fit the strategy and culture of the organization, not those who appear to be best qualified.rn5. Align systems and processes throughout the organization and ensure that they can adjust rapidly to change.rn6. Be externally focused, not just internally focused.rn7. Consider risk management and have project management plans in place, rather than simply considering the upside promised by new ideas.rn8. Say what you are going to do, and do it, on time and within budget.rn9. Winning involves maintaining a balance between the expectations of shareholders, customers, employees, suppliers, governments and communities.rn10. Winning takes a long time and is far removed from the short-term focus that gets newsworthy attention.