CASE STUDY
Enabling more effective ways of working
THE PROBLEM
An Oil & Gas client established the Integrated Operations Centre (IOC) that co-located a wide range of functional teams; encompassing technical engineering, control room with full remote capability, integrated planning and optimisation, network operations, energy trading and commercial, operational technology incorporating telecoms/data/infrastructure and the related field assets comprising wells and gas plants. These diverse, and by necessity closely integrated business areas, conduct and manage the clients’ operations throughout South East QLD. Equipped with a suite of cutting-edge visualisation technology, this environment provided real time interactive information to its operational personnel and brought teams together that were previously dispersed across multiple locations, into a single location.
The client needed to build a culture that balanced short-term operational needs with an ability to reflect, review and adapt with a more strategic mindset.
THE PROGRAM OF WORK
The client engaged us to design and build a High Performing Team (HPT) program, incorporating the Team Management Profile (TMP) and Linking Skills Profile (LSP) – designed to enable the client to realise the benefits of this environment through collaboration, knowledge sharing and, importantly, developing the capability to leverage the diverse range of skills and experience of the 150+ personnel within the team. The TMP and LSP were selected as an integral part of the HPT Program offering a safe, interactive and fun way to understand the teams’ preferences and the preferences of others.
Although members of the team had worked together previously, the newly formed environment provided the opportunity for them to improve their ways of working. Conducting the TMP for all team members offered a framework that enabled them to exchange information and ideas using a common language and shared understanding. Additionally, the TMP afforded every team member the opportunity to gain an enhanced level of awareness of themselves and their colleagues.
The LLP was designed to provide middle and upper level leaders with a deeper view of their abilities to undertake the ‘linking’ activities in the TMP; thereby providing the team, as a whole, with the greatest opportunity to leverage the benefits it was designed for.
The workshop approach was designed to be a mix of ‘teaching’ about the TMP, ‘doing’ activities around the four measures of work preference (RIDO scale), ‘discussing’ the implication of the TMP in the workplace and scenario gamification to demonstrate collaboration and diversity.
THE OUTCOMES
The TMS solution in the HPT program laid a foundation for the team to explore more innovative ways to solve problems. The program provided a holistic exploration of how the team members could better interact and employ the diversity of team members to explore a range of potential solution pathways using a variety of perspectives.
The team members were debriefed on their profiles results over a series of 10 workshops held over a 2-month period. The core themes that emerged from the workshops included:
- There is no single right solution to any given problem
- People have different preferences, and these differences enable the workplace to be viewed in different ways
- Our differences are a strength, being able to leverage these differences is a competitive advantage
By framing the workshops as a process of inquiry, we worked with the client to openly challenge their current ways of working. We also enabled the team to ask more insightful questions about their environment, their colleagues and their purpose, in preference to seeking a final all-encompassing solution. By incorporating a variety of games, challenges and discussions, the workshops enabled participants to correlate the TMS learning to the activities performed.
The Benefits
As a result of the program, the client increased their awareness of team diversity and gained an understanding of the value of leveraging these differences. Through an enhanced awareness of one’s self and an awareness of others, it is possible to conduct more effective “coloured” meetings that deliver purpose and outcome, the identification of potential blind spots within team operations and the development of collaborative relationships based on a better understanding of how others may prefer to work or communicate.
Testimonials
I have known Pat for approximately 20 years, initially meeting when working at Boeing, then moving to Eurocopter and staying in contact ever since. I
have found Pat to be one of those rare individuals who uses a personal touch to achieve technical outcomes. Pat’s strengths lay in his broad technical background and experience, coupled with genuine empathy and ability to develop high-performing teams.
I recently worked closely with Patrick during the development and delivery of the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) funded Australia Awards Fellowship Program entitled, ‘Responding to Skilled Worker Demand: Improving Quality, Leadership and Management of TVET’ in Vietnam. Throughout the delivery of this Fellowship Program Patrick was responsible for facilitating training activities in the areas of transformational leadership, personal leadership, leading teams, project management and change management. Patrick did an outstanding job in this position demonstrating his agility in effectively and efficiently responding to emerging challenges as well as contextualizing training content to meet the needs of his audience, in this case senior leaders from Vietnam’s Ministry of Construction.
Patrick Albina is a highly intelligent, insightful professional who has the rare ability to balance a high level of technical capacity with a sophisticated approach to dealing with people at all levels. And because of this powerful dual perspective, Patrick has outstanding influencing and engagement skills.
Working with Patrick Albina on the AIR9000 Ph8 bid was a truly positive experience. Pat’s attention to detail assured the highest quality material was prepared and submitted. His enthusiasm and vigour for the product being offered never waned, along with his determination to ensure all customer requirements were fully satisfied. I wholly recommend Patrick to any organisation looking to engage a dedicated, self-motivated and highly personable team-player.
Patrick Albina is a highly motivated, intelligent professional with keen skills of insight and perspective that are required to be effective in managing organisational complexity. He has the capacity to embrace the technical aspects as well as the people and relational issues which makes him excellent in his influencing and sense making skills to understand and make long term effective change in organisations.
Since mid 2014, Patrick’s coaching has helped me define and develop a values based approach to my career. We consistently meet to discuss my progress and I receive objective feedback from Patrick that I put into our action before our next meeting. This action and feedback loop is the most powerful and effective professional development work I have done to date. For anyone looking to accelerate their career, I highly recommend contacting Patrick.
Patrick has been the lead consultant on a number of projects in recent years for CASG, ranging from a comprehensive tailored learning and development framework, asset management principles adaptation to strategic organisational reform and change management. His skills, experience and capability to communicate effectively and strategically with all stakeholders is outstanding. As well as delivering exceptional value, he is always going above and beyond, delivering ongoing strategic value to the organisation more broadly.
We engaged Patrick to provide subject matter expertise to our Product Management Implementation Project, established to deliver a tailored design and implementation of ISO 55000 Asset Management principles to enhance CH-47F Chinook Product Management. Throughout our 12 month engagement, he provided valuable guidance and practical assistance in all project stages including, problem framing and design; change management; procedure development and practical implementation; observation and feedback; and communication (internal and external). He proved a highly effective enabler to achieving our objectives and ultimately a successful and resilient project outcome.
