 |
| Taking
on the $10K-Ideas Challenge |
| |
 |
| Staff
from two departments brainstorming
ideas. |
|
|
|
| |
Need good ideas?
What about effective solutions to problems? Look
no further than your workplace — simply engage your
own staff!
The Public Utilities Board (PUB), Singapore’s national
water agency, has proven with its $10K-Ideas Challenge
that employees are capable of coming up with excellent
cost-saving and problem-solving ideas!
PUB’s $10K-Ideas programme was launched by Chief
Executive Khoo Teng Chye in April 2004. Its purpose:
to challenge PUB managers to implement 100 ideas,
each worth $10,000, once every six months.
In return, they are awarded $100 for each $10K Idea
if the value or savings are effectively achieved
within six months.
The programme encourages managers to take the lead
in implementing ideas that create value in their
workplace. It also aims to cultivate an innovative
mindset and attitude in managers. By empowering
managers, the programme builds their confidence
in implementing ideas that create value. Over time,
PUB aims to develop a “price minus” culture where
staff are mindful about “doing more with less”.
Said Mr Khoo: “It is not so much the number of ideas
or savings achieved, but rather our aim to create
an organisation where we find deep fulfilment in
producing high-quality work while at the same time
making optimal use of available resources.”
PUB believes it is extremely important to engage
staff as this will encourage them to use their knowledge
and experience in the workplace to innovate. When
staff are involved, they feel a greater sense of
belonging and in turn will do their best for the
organisation.
For example, staff were involved in manning roadshows,
which were held to explain the rationale for the
$10K-Ideas Challenge and clarify questions that
other PUB staff might have.
The idea behind the roadshows was to motivate the
staff, listen to their concerns and encourage them
to participate. At a typical roadshow, a montage
of good $10K Ideas is featured. Most roadshows end
with an ideas-generation session.
PUB officers have been very supportive of the $10K-Ideas
programme. In the first year of implementation,
over 200 ideas were contributed, resulting in some
$14 million in value gained. This greatly exceeded
the expectations of all involved. To date, the three
rounds of $10K-Ideas Challenge have enabled PUB
to achieve savings worth more than $17 million and
another $30 million in cost avoidance.
Even though the $10K-Ideas Challenge was targeted
at managers, the directors, deputy directors and
junior officers also eventually got involved in
the programme.
Many PUB staff members have found it a useful way
of making improvements, cutting waste and testing
new ideas without going through too much hassle.
“What is more motivating than the monetary
reward is knowing that our idea can save money for
PUB,” said Mr Lee Kah Seng, General Manager of Kranji
Water Reclamation Plant that won a $10K-Idea award.
Apart from monetary gains, the $10K-Ideas Challenge
has helped to create a culture of continuous improvement
in PUB.
The initiative highlights the importance of staff
helping to improve their workplace. Managers in
turn play a crucial role in raising the morale of
their staff and getting them involved in the problem-solving
process. |
| |
| |
| By
PUB |
