EOL IT Services Cultivates Job Understanding
Staff at progressive company EOL IT Services are finding out the true meaning of togetherness at work.
The 50-strong staff at the Essex company now work much closer thanks to a new “Team Challenge” initiative. It was the brainchild of Chairman Jan Smith and is involving all staff at the IT solutions company in Station Road, Maldon.
Its purpose was to improve internal communication between staff and encourage employees to think of new services the company could offer. Several of the suggestions presented by the teams are now being put in place including Project Shadowing and an Intranet for EOL staff.
In their mixed teams staff from different departments, often people who may not know or ever worked alongside each other, have been coming together. It means that the workforce which has helped the company grow from strength to strength over the past 11 years now has a new perspective on their work.
An example of co-operation between departments with varied roles is Vicki Whittle from the Client Services Department who teamed up with members of the Logistics Team Richard Reed and Richard Purtell.Through their Project Shadowing idea they learned more about their respective roles. She says she discovered a very different perspective on her previous assumptions of their roles.EOL IT Services’ Managing Director Richard Parker said: “The principle reason behind the Team Challenge was to improve internal communication.“
Although people have been working within the same company they may spend their days in different parts of our offices or warehouse or are working off site. With the Team Challenge they didn’t just meet each other; they worked together on a specific project and they are doing extremely well.“
The Project Shadowing has proved more beneficial than job shadowing which usually involves employees working in the same sort of role. With Project Shadowing people were involved in much more diverse work than normal.”
Vicki Whittle’s role involves liaising with EOL IT’s many clients which include major financial and insurance companies. She ensures clients are satisfied with the EOL IT service and sorts out any queries. Her days are spent in a comfortable office using a PC, telephone and other IT equipment.
She said: “In working on the project shadowing with the Logistics Department it opened my eyes to their work. They don’t just load, drive and unload – their work is much wider than that.“
I was surprised to learn that there are right and wrong ways of loading and that an enormous amount of care goes into their work. The drivers also are our public face as well because they meet our clients every day.”
The Team Challenge resulted in prizes for the three winning – all team members are due to enjoy at night our courtesy of EOL.
