Essentially High Performance Work involves using consultative processes between workers and management to share frontline ideas and experiences to improve how work can be better organised and managed. Businesses which have implemented the high performance model have seen greater increases in productivity, better use of resources and enhanced competitiveness. It also means delegating greater responsibility and improving the rewards for work by sharing the gains from constructive engagement. Ultimately, it’s about improving business performance and making work more satisfying and rewarding.
The first step toward High Performance Work is to evaluate the workplace. The Centre uses an assessment tool that has been developed from the experiences of workplaces around the world and tailored to fit New Zealand’s production conditions. The analysis is done by a joint-governance group involving staff and management and is designed to resolve issues of organisation, production, skills and workplace culture.
The High Performance approach:
- Provides ways for management and the workforce to communicate, problem solve, consult, make joint-decisions and share the responsibilities of HPW
- Develops commitment to HPW throughout the organisation to ensure improvements in productivity are sustainable in the long term.
- Implements a range of high performance manufacturing and maintenance techniques to enhance competitiveness, reduce waste and improve work organisation
- Determines ways to monitor performance and set up reward and recognition systems for workers.