Skiing with the family for four weeks during the December holidays? Timeout for a well-earned month at a coastal resort?
Extended end-year holidays are the norm for South Africans, with Johannesburg, the country's major metropolitan hub for commerce and business, virtually grinding to a halt, or so it seems.
According to Trevor Lowen, managing director of Axis Interim Management, there is a definite case for interim management during holidays, especially during the December slow-down.
"The last few years have seen South African companies forced to become more globally and regionally competitive, out of necessity and increased competitiveness.
'Many businesses here either slow down noticeably or close altogether' "While Europe and the United States continue as normal throughout December and January, many businesses here either slow down noticeably or close altogether for all or part of that period. We are out of sync with major trading partners and the potential damage to turnover and trading can be significant," Lowen says.
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It all ties in with the old adage - when the cat's away the mice will play. It's in instances such as these where the use of an interim manager over the year-end period can reap positive dividends and a tangible return on investment.
Axis Interim Management defines interim management as the engagement, by an individual or organisation, of a senior independent executive for a contractual period in either a line management, staff or a project role.
Interim managers can be used in a variety of roles within an organisation, ranging from business turnarounds to simply plugging a short-term "gap" in a company.
Because the interim managers on Axis's books have a combination of superior qualifications and extensive work experience, it is relatively easy for them to assume the required mantle of responsibility almost immediately. They get on with the task at hand while company executives enjoy a break without untoward concern about their company's operations.
They get on with the task at hand while company executives enjoy a break "Labour consultants focus on lost productivity in rand values due to strikes or public holidays, but seldom do similar calculations based on potential losses during December.
"We believe that industry and commerce at large would be shocked to be confronted with those figures, which could be substantially reduced or easily nullified if forethought measures such as the use of interim managers were implemented," concludes Lowen.
* Axis Interim Management can be contacted on 011-269-8712
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