LG Mid East staff start 2004 change management programme

The teambuilding trek was part of a day-long seminar that kicked off the global and regional digital leader's 2004 change management programme promoting LGE's new 'Great Company, Great People' philosophy. Over 90 walkers came from Kenya, Pakistan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Tunisia and UAE.

"LG Electronics' new Chairman and CEO, S.S. Kim's first directive to LGE offices throughout the world was to embrace change management and hinge the company's future on the philosophy of 'Great Company - Great People'," said Mr. K. H. Kim, President LG Electronics Middle East and Africa.

"Change management is nothing new to LG. Its attention first looked at processes, both in production and management, when the company employed Six-Sigma techniques to investigate ways to improve quality control.

"With Six-Sigma now an accepted part of LGE management processes, Chairman Kim instructed subsidiaries and offices around the globe to focus on people and processes with TDR (tear-down-and-rebuild) processes and development of the 'LG-Way'."

Six Sigma is a measure of quality that strives for near perfection. The Six Sigma process uses data and rigorous statistical analysis to identify 'defects' in a process or product, reduce variability and achieve as close to zero defects as possible.

"TDR projects are underway throughout the region giving our distributor and dealer network the ability to enhance management processes with the aim of maintaining high-levels of customer satisfaction," said Kim. "These TDR programmes will address enhancements to service and production processes. The next step for 2004 in our change management strategy is to look at people.

"The 'LG Way' concentrates on people - both customers and employees with a view to improving the human aspect of what we do.

"Our business relies on relationships. We might have the best products in the world but unless we can communicate effectively and deal with people in a positive manner, we will not create good employees and generate good customers. That is the 'LG Way'."

LGE's first steps on the 'LG-Way' were recently taken with a half-day seminar in Dubai followed by the team-building desert trek.

"Walking for 10 kilometres in the desert sand is certainly not easy but it gave everyone the chance to meet their counterparts from throughout the region and to demonstrate how working together as a team is highly productive," said Mr. P. C. Choi, President, LG Electronics Gulf FZE.

Teambuilding, according to Kim, would directly impact customer care and eventually the bottom line.

"Staff activities involving the whole team give colleagues a chance to mix, work and hopefully have fun together. If LG has happy employees, it can deliver the high standards of customer care it is famous for," said Kim.