The Workplace Challenge (WPC) is a joint initiative of the National Economic Development Labour Council(Nedlac) and the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) that aims to actively encourage and support negotiated workplace change to improve productivity and job creation. WPC operates in the form of Clusters, as well as User Groups, facilitated by World-Class Competitiveness consultants assisted by Productivity SA change facilitators.

WORKPLACE CHALLENGE – your local facilitator towards becoming world-class. The basic concept of the Workplace Challenge Programme of  Productivity SA and the dti is the following:

USER GROUPS

Clusters - between 6 and 10 companies per Cluster (group of companies from the same geographic area).

User Groups - between 7 and 10 companies per User Group (group of companies from the same geographic area).

Participating companies – small, medium and large companies in the manufacturing sector (average number of employees per company between 150 and 600 people), but clusters also include companies with as few as 30 people.

Participating companies - mainly small and medium companies in the manufacturing sector (average number of employees per company between 50 and 250 people).

More intensive consulting option for smaller, medium and bigger companies.

More economical self-help option for smaller manufacturing companies.

The process is based on a consulting approach. Consultants supported by Productivity SA facilitators guide companies to implement change.

The process is based on a facilitation approach. Shift away to developing capacity in companies to understand problems and implement solutions by themselves ie Productivity SA supplied User Group Facilitator guides companies to implement change.

Productivity SA provides a choice between four Best Operating Practice Service Providers plus Cluster Facilitators to assist each cluster and individual companies and doing regular audits.

Productivity SA provides only User Group Facilitators to assist each User Group and individual member companies with implementation of Workplace Transformation Toolkit and doing regular audits.

Regular Consulting – cluster members agree on a number of consulting days with their selected service provider at fees negotiated with the Service Provider.

Ad hoc Consulting – should User Group Members require additional world-class competitiveness consulting, they may engage any service provider acceptable to them at fees negotiated with the Service Provider.

Productivity SA provides training materials in the form of World-Class Competitiveness Modules following the Mission Directed Work Team (MDWT) or 20 Keys or Best In Class Tools (BICIT) or TRACC Frameworks.

Productivity SA provides training materials in the form of a Workplace Transformation Toolkit comprising the basics of World-Class competitiveness in five modules: The World-Class Competitiveness Management System; Goal Alignment; Cleaning and Organising; Teamwork and Leadership.

Constructive dialogue and capacity building. Collaboration between Cluster and User Group members in the same geographic area.

Constructive dialogue and capacity building. Collaboration between Cluster and User Group members in the same geographic area.

Sharing experiences and lessons. Monthly steering committee meetings, site visits, milestone workshops (workshops to share how members implement world-class competitiveness principles) and “Knowledge Generation and Dissemination” coordinated by Productivity SA User Group support.

Sharing experiences and lessons. Monthly steering committee meetings, site visits, “Bonang Re Etsang” or “Bonani Senzani” workshops (workshops to share how members implement World-Class Competitiveness principles) and “Knowledge Generation and Dissemination” coordinated by Productivity SA User Group support.

Productivity SA maintains a dedicated website to ensure accessibility of world-class competitiveness knowledge and sharing.

Productivity SA maintains a dedicated website to ensure accessibility of world-class competitiveness knowledge and sharing.

Implementation - planned for 24 months.

Implementation - planned for 24 months.