1. Boomtime
forbusiness
benchmark
programme
NewZealandcompaniesare
queuinguptodiscovertheirglobal
ranking,JayneAthertonwrites.
A BUSINESS benchmarking trial
which measures New Zealand
companies against the world’s
best has doubled in size.
The innovation programme,
called Improve, was introduced by
the Government at the start of the
year, with the expectation around
20 businesses would sign up.
Three months in it has attracted
more than 40 firms prepared to
find out how they rank in a global
performance league.
The trial is being run by Crown
agency Callaghan Innovation,
which was set up to help New
Zealand businesses and the
economy grow and better
compete with
firms overseas.
New Zealand
businesses taking
part are measured
against more than
4000 firms,
covering a wide
range of sectors in
Europe, the United
States and Asia.
The programme
was devised by the European
Commission but has spread
overseas and is now seen as the
‘‘gold standard’’.
Examiners conduct a business
‘‘health check’’. This looks at
different measures of
performance to compile a final
‘‘diagnosis’’ of where they are
succeeding or what needs to be
done to catch up with the best.
Group manager of programmes
at Callaghan Innovation, Willem
Van der Steen said: ‘‘The process
is very thorough and requires the
businesses to be really trans-
parent, so there’s a huge element
of trust involved for those taking
part. The programme examines
every detail of the company.
‘‘A report is compiled and then
the business and its advisers know
exactly what to concentrate on to
improve their chances of
competing. The firms themselves
can choose to be benchmarked
against the best in the world
operating in their sector or just
measure themselves up against
competitors in their peer group.
‘‘Because it is a tough process,
we are delighted by the level of
interest. Around 10 businesses
have taken part so far, another 35
are lined up for the next couple of
months and we are still getting
inquiries.
‘‘It appears to have tapped into
a need, and we are
expecting to re-
new the appro-
priate licences so
that we can
continue with the
programme when
the trial officially
comes to an end
in the middle of
the year.’’
Among the
business indicators examined are
a company’s innovation strategy,
ideas management, business
culture, human resources systems
and IT. Improve’s success has
already sparked spinoff courses in
intellectual property innovation
and waste management.
Van der Steen added: ‘‘So far
the results show that New Zealand
firms are holding their own in
many areas, but there are always
issues where they need to focus
their time and investment.
‘‘The idea is that by addressing
some of the potential barriers to
growth, we can help the country
as a whole become a more diversi-
fied economy, which isn’t so reli-
ant on meat and dairy exports.’’
‘Because it is a
tough process,
we are delighted
by the level of
interest.’
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Sunday Star Times, New Zealand
22 Mar 2015, by Jayne Atherton
Business News, page 1 - 322.00 cm²
National - circulation 120,046 (------S)
ID 385457794 BRIEF CALLAGHAN INDEX 1 PAGE 1 of 1