Schneider Ross > Case Studies > Developing vision and strategy

Developing vision and strategy

During the early 1990's the company made significant progress in addressing equal opportunities for women - with a steady growth in maternity returners and an increase of women in management positions from 10% to over 30%.

The challenge, which Schneider~Ross were commissioned to help them address, was how to broaden the focus of this work to look at diversity `in the round' - not just gender but in all the ways in which we differ from each other and the links this has with creativity and sustainable growth. We helped the company establish a Steering Group led by the chairman and involving senior line representatives from the businesses to carry out a fundamental review and develop a diversity vision, strategy and plans.

The Steering Group started by developing a charter, or “vision” – which described what they meant by diversity, and why they felt it was important. This statement describes “a rich mix of people, skills and cultures that can enable a greater range of inputs, viewpoints and experiences, all of which will generate more ideas, more challenges to traditional thinking ….and more chances of coming up with winning solutions.” Each of the Chairmen of the operating companies in the UK then signalled their personal commitment by signing the statement to be distributed to staff.

The chairman said: “As leader of the steering group, I’m delighted with what we have been able to achieve. Robin has worked with us right from the start, providing an external stimulus and helping us build our understanding and commitment. We’re convinced that our employees, prospective employees and business partners demand that we value diversity – and we will not disappoint them.”

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