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Taoiseach Calls for Modernisation of Irish Workplaces
Dublin, 29 November 2007 – The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, TD, today called on Irish businesses to be more open to the benefits of modern working practices and work arrangements.
In a keynote address to the 'Ireland’s Workplaces: Innovative Futures' Masterclass at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Mr. Ahern said that greater levels of workplace innovation will yield tangible gains in terms of increased productivity and competitiveness; more and better jobs; enhanced employee engagement; and a better quality of working life generally.
The Taoiseach went on to say that: "The quality, pro-activity and productivity of our workplaces will be absolutely critical in securing our shared future - today's Masterclass will make a very important contribution to the task of releasing the knowledge and creativity of our workforce nationwide and will help us face the future with confidence."
The Taoiseach also paid tribute to the work of the National Centre for Partnership and Performance (NCPP) for its efforts to replicate, at enterprise level, the successful partnership approach to planning and problem-solving that has served Ireland so well for two decades at national level.
His comments were echoed by Professor Peter Totterdill, founder and joint Chief Executive of the UK Work Organisation Network (UKWON), who led the Masterclass. Looking at how employers can best release the knowledge and creativity of their workforce, Prof. Totterdill said that traditional ways of organising work and traditional approaches to management were inadequate in a world of new technologies, shifting demographics and rapidly-evolving workforces.
He said: "While new forms of work organisation clearly offer a viable route to increased innovation in our workplaces, the fact is that they are an under-utilised resource at present."
Prof. Totterdill added that the solution lies in the ability of organisations to develop a partnership approach between employers, managers, unions and employees that is based on shared knowledge, creativity, dialogue, reflection and joint action/team-working.
He acknowledged that there were obstacles to change, however, including limited awareness among employers of the benefits of new forms of work organisation, poor access to evidence-based methods and resources, and a strong corporate culture among senior management that is resistant to workplace change.
The centrepiece of the Masterclass was a Forum Theatre production, whereby a real-life workplace scenario was played out by professional actors working with members of the audience to examine and reflect upon the key issues that enable, and inhibit, organisational innovation.
Lucy Fallon-Byrne, Director, National Centre for Partnership and Performance, said: "Forum Theatre is a highly innovative way of tackling workplace issues in a non-threatening, interactive and effective manner. Relationship problems in the workplace can become 'silent killers' if left unresolved. Good inter-personal relations are critical to boosting and maintaining high levels of innovation in our workplaces."
The Masterclass also heard from sociologist Deborah Hordon (Hay Group Ireland) and examined the practical experiences of employee involvement and engagement as a means of fostering innovation and creativity in three Irish organisations – the Environmental Protection Agency, Google Ireland and Tegral Metal Forming Ltd.
The event was organised by the NCPP under the aegis of the National Workplace Strategy (www.workplacestrategy.ie), the Government’s blueprint to transform Irish workplaces into workplaces of the future.
Note to Editors:
National Centre for Partnership and Performance (NCPP)
NCPP was established by the Irish Government in 2001 to promote and facilitate workplace change and innovation through partnership. In addition to a wide range of research and advocacy-based activities, it is also responsible for overseeing implementation of the National Workplace Strategy. The Centre was placed on a statutory footing at the beginning of 2007 as part of the new National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO). To learn more about the work of the NCPP, please visit www.ncpp.ie
A full transcript of the Taoiseach’s address is available at: www.taoiseach.gov.ie
For further information:
Conor Leeson
Head of Communications
National Centre for Partnership and Performance
Tel: 01-814 6398
Mob: 086-211 9511
Email: conor@ncpp.ie
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