Modern business management practices are gradually finding their way into the traditional field of agriculture as Shirley Macmillan reports from Aberdeenshire. Maitland Mackie's three dairy units, near Rothienorman, have their own personnel officer -albeit she is shared with the other 55 full-time staff working in Mackie's farming and processing enterprises. Carron Taylor, the firm's personnel and administration manager, arrived 18 months ago when policy changed from 'dae whit yer telt' to participative management where everything is discussed and staff have a chance to put their own ideas across. The benefit to the company, says Mr Mackie, will be increased profit: "And we will all be working towards the same objectives. The role of the personnel officer is to develop our people in ways which are beneficial to themselves, and the business. Before, we used to take on staff, train them, and hope they did well," he says, "Now, the approach is to explain why we do things."
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