TRM Briefings
Issue. 2007:1

In this Issue:

Welcome Penny

Your Personal Dashboard

The Four Legs of the Table

Upcoming Public Events

Visit our Website!

Editorial

In this inaugural briefing I am pleased to introduce our latest staff member and also to provide an update on our 6 months of research into performance measurement tools that help businesses and individuals monitor their performance against goals.

I have also provided a brief summary of a book you might like to consider over the coming months. It is Raymond Akerman’s “Four Legs of the Table”. Raymond is a remarkable businessman building one of South Africa’s leading supermarket chains, Pic’n Pay. His company’s philosophies make a wonderful read.

With Easter upon us, I wish to take this time to wish you all a safe and relaxing time with family and friends .

Best regards

David Hanlon

Welcome Penny

Penny O’Shanesy combines a background in the rural and finance sectors. After completing a bachelor of Agricultural Science at the University of Queensland, she has worked for the CSIRO on sugar-cane research and the Queensland Department of Primary Industries.

The lure of overseas and global exploration led to work in the finance sector in Edinburgh and on her return to Australia she has spent the last four years with Medfin Australia, an organisation that focuses exclusively on the financial needs of medical, dental and healthcare practitioners. During this period, Penny thrived on helping clients to start-up and to grow their business operations.

She initiated “The Pink Slipper”, a not-for-profit organisation, for people willing and able to do something to support the fight against breast cancer.

Your Personal Dashboard

Ever imagined driving your car with the dashboard covered up? There would be no way of monitoring speed or fuel: the two most common ones we need. Other gauges are used less frequently and now days most are generally there as warnings if something else goes wrong (for example the temperature gauge).

Over the past six months, we have been reviewing and trialing a range of “dashboard dials” for business and personal use. And in the process we have selected a number of “gauges” for our business and personal monitoring.

Three that we like and use are:
1. DISC management profile for team leaders
2. MSCEIT Emotional Intelligence test
3. Full Engagement Profile

The Four Legs of the Table

Raymond Akerman commenced Pick 'n Pay in 1968 after being sacked from his previous employment. He philosophy from the beginning was based on:

an unwavering belief in consumer sovereignty; and
the application of the “four legs of the table” principle.

The “four legs of the table” principle was instilled into Akerman by one of his mentors and early trainers from the US, Bernard Trujillo. The four legs of the table are:

Administration;
Merchandise;
Promotion and social responsibility; and
People.

As a strong advocate for philanthropy, Akerman believes that sustainable businesses have an important role to play in building sustainable communities. To this regard, the company has a commitment that 8 percent of after tax profits are devoted to social responsibility.