Dimension Data believes its people and culture are key differentiators in the market and essential to the success of the group. This is according to CEO Brett Dawson, speaking at the company's annual results presentation yesterday.
He said the company works hard at cultivating a winning, high-performance culture. “While our people and culture strategy is a key cornerstone of our group strategy, it was necessary to respond to the prevailing economic environment during the year,” he added.
The company's approach was to take rapid action early in the year to reduce costs where necessary due to a reduced demand, he said. In contrast, it also invested and sought to maximise opportunities for growth wherever possible. “This dual approach resulted in headcount reductions in some geographies and businesses, and growth in others.”
In addition, the company invested in building people strength during the course of the year, adding to its Microsoft skills organically and through the Teksys acquisition, and increasing headcount in Internet Solutions and its systems integration business through acquisitions in Angola, Mozambique and Australia.
Dawson said the group made a number of investments in enabling, developing and retaining excellence in its people during the year. “We deployed 'Leading Talent', a tailored programme for all line managers aimed at further developing our key leaders in the group,” he pointed out.
According to Dawson, management continued to drive the Dimension Data job framework project, which helps employees identify and plot their optimal career paths. With the recent stabilisation in some of its end markets and in anticipation of growth in the 2010 financial year, Dawson says the group is looking at modest additions to its key technical and sales skills in select areas of the business.
The multinational IT company, which reported a cash balance of $600 million, says its total number of employees across the group was 11 032 at year end, which is flat on the prior year.
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