Retention, sales and customer service are terms frequently used when describing the various aspects of running a successful business. A term not heard as often, yet of equal importance, is corporate culture.
Dr Ludi Beukman, HR Development Specialist, Softline VIP, says your employees are key assets in implementing and maintaining a corporate culture. It is, therefore, imperative that you affirm your most valuable resource - your staff.
Corporate culture reflects the values, norms, and behaviours of a business, and when a culture promotes positive and value-driven behaviour, a business gains an edge on the competition. A well-defined corporate culture creates unity among staff and loyalty to the business.
However, when the culture has significant negative aspects, this leads to a reverse cycle characterised by conflicted values, high attrition, and poor morale. Thus, making the effort to define and execute a healthy corporate culture is essential in creating a profitable and respected business that employees are happy to be a part of.
Beukman oversees Softline VIP`s performance management and training budget for 65 executives, a large complement of consultants, and other employees. He says that while more than 70% of the time dedicated to training is spent in-house, direct outsourced training costs can easily be more than that of in-house training.
"In my experience, cultivating managers who can reinforce your corporate culture is most effectively achieved through in-house training. Training in-house is also more cost-effective. However, cost should never inhibit you from capitalising on outside guidance. Strike the right balance between in-house and outsourced training and the results will speak for themselves. In-house training is also an important contributor to staff retention. Keeping training `in the family` allows a company to really get to know its employees and to make the important distinction between skill and talent. Just because someone doesn`t display the necessary skill to be a payroll consultant, for example, doesn`t mean that they are worthless. Their talent lies elsewhere and a skilled trainer will pick this up and see where best this talent can be utilised within the company."
He adds that effective management training and leadership development is a continuous process, which takes its lead from industry developments and trends. While much of the learning will take place inside the office in the form of training modules and informal sessions, certain aspects demand the guidance of outside trainers and the company must be prepared to invest in this.
"With the increasing competition that businesses are facing from those offering identical services in their backyard, the need to keep ahead of the competition is more important than ever. External training outfits bring to the table their experience and perspectives, which can be blended with individual organisational needs. The advantages of in-house training, where learning essentially takes place around the table and from evidence of success stories, are, however, critical. And in the process, to offer people opportunities for personal development is priceless. So, it stands to reason that establishing the right balance between the two forms of training is the most profitable approach," Beukman concludes.
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Softline VIP
Softline VIP is a leading supplier of payroll and human resource management solutions in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. The company now boasts more than 24 000 clients. With three payroll and human resource management products, Softline VIP is able to meet the needs of any size company. Coupled with an extensive service offering, Softline VIP is the only payroll and HR solution geared to meet the challenges of the modern payroll office. The VIP products are synonymous with ease of use, stability and reliability, with the flexibility to cater to the unique needs of every client. VIP promises long-term sustainability over and above legislative compliance. VIP understands the HR and payroll environment and offers the client peace of mind by providing a total solution.
Softline VIP products include:
VIP Premier - Softline VIP also supplies leading technology to service large and corporate clients. VIP Premier is geared towards increasing the functionality of payroll systems and provides an uncomplicated solution for medium to large organisations. One of the key features of this product is that it is quick to implement in comparison to similar solutions. Meeting the needs of any payroll office and supplying the most suitable solution is important for Softline VIP as it strives to ensure practical solutions for all users. Our products are easy to use and reliable and the information produced is accurate and complies with all statutory requirements.
VIP Classic - VIP Classic is the perfect solution for clients with bigger operations than the one-man business. VIP Classic provides the same flexibility as larger systems but is aimed at the small to medium sector. This software offers a total solution to users.
VIP Essentials - VIP Essentials is geared to small businesses and contains the same ease of use and stability of all VIP`s products. VIP Essentials is an affordable product making it an ideal solution for the small business paying less than 30 employees.
Softline has a solid track record of profitability and cash generation. The group delivers quality accounting, payroll and CRM software solutions that improve the efficiencies of businesses around the world.
Softline
Softline is a leading provider of accounting, payroll, CRM and ERP software solutions to small, medium and large sized companies. Founded in 1988 by Ivan Epstein, Alan Osrin and Steven Cohen, Softline was established during the formative years of the software industry and listed on the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa in February 1997. Softline expanded to establish a strong position within its area of focus in South Africa and Australia. Focused on the development of accounting, payroll, CRM and ERP software solutions, Softline has a 20-year track record as a market leader. The group has a broad range of products offering users a variety of software solutions to run their businesses efficiently. Softline`s leading brands include Softline Accpac, Softline Enterprise, Softline Pastel (Accounting and Payroll) and Softline VIP. The combination of the group`s product offerings provides Softline customers with comprehensive, well-branded accounting, payroll, CRM and ERP software solutions. In November 2003, Softline was acquired by the Sage Group, a FTSE 100 company. The software group includes market-leading businesses throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, North America, South Africa and Australia, supplying business software to the small, medium and large sized business community. Softline has a solid track record of profitability and cash generation. The group delivers quality accounting, payroll, CRM and ERP software solutions that improve the efficiencies of businesses around the world.
The Sage Group
The Sage Group is a leading global supplier of business management software solutions and related products and services, principally for small to medium-sized enterprises. Formed in 1981, Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989. Sage has 5.8 million customers and more than 14 500 employees worldwide. We operate in over 26 countries covering the UK, Europe, North America, South Africa, Australia, India and China. For further information, please visit http://www.sage.com.
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