Australia: ABB Grain was received the People Management Award for South Australia in the Australian Human Resources Institute’s (AHRI) 2006 Awards for Excellence

Premier agribusiness ABB Grain has formally been recognised as one of the state’s leading employers, after being awarded the People Management Award for South Australia in the Australian Human Resources Institute’s (AHRI) 2006 Awards for Excellence, the company released September 14.

ABB Grain overcame strong competition from a number of leading South Australian companies to win the prestigious award.

The award is testament to ABB’s ongoing commitment to its human resource activities and team member development, which were further enhanced this year with the introduction of ABB’s innovative staff integration program referred to as ‘The ABB Way’.

ABB’s Managing Director, Michael Iwaniw, said the award recognised the development and delivery of the company’s cultural changing initiative – ‘The ABB Way’, successfully implemented by ABB’s human resources team.

“The program was developed in response to a staff survey conducted in 2005 which identified a number of areas needing attention, including communications, business direction and the aftermath of merger and acquisition processes within ABB,” Mr Iwaniw said.

“The ABB Way represents the way ABB aims to do business. The program defines the values, culture and behaviours that ABB will exhibit as a highly professional and successful organisation.

“Ultimately The ABB Way underpins ABB Grain’s vision to be Australia’s premier integrated agribusiness and is fundamental to the company achieving its strategic goals.”

He said given the challenges the company has faced since the numerous mergers and acquisition activities, the award was a feather in ABB’s cap and reflected how far the company has come in achieving its integration goals.

“The introduction of The ABB Way program was really about integration as a whole of company approach and included all levels of the company.”

Mr Iwaniw said ABB will continue to develop the programme, which underpins all aspects of the business, including growth and the creation of an effective working environment.

As a state finalist ABB will now compete against 14 other state finalists in the people management category of the awards, which include some well known organisations such as Qantas, Sensis and HBA Health Insurance. The national winner will be announced on 5 October at the Australian Human Resources Institute’s national awards dinner.

16 September, 2006