ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the organisational and project issues with managing people and requirements for developing an engaging and motivating culture. Professional services firms are people businesses and managing human beings is complex and requires astute organisational management and project-leadership skills. The chapter discusses the organisational arrangements, how to develop sustainable business through accession and succession planning, how to solicit clarity of roles and responsibilities and how to create a culture of high performance. A culture of high-performance in project environment arises when there is close collaboration between the project participants. The chapter presents some strategies on how operational managers can begin to take a more active approach in creating a culture of high productivity to achieve their targets. It demonstrates that appropriate balance between empowerment and controls is determined by values-based assurance, through: empowerment of our personnel; developing trusting relationships; and application of independent assurance. The chapter provides strategic direction to increase our chance of success in landing strategic recruits.
