Recent client question: SYNACT-logo

What is the client's business?
The client's organisation is a Shielded Work environment for workers with a mental, physical or complex handicap. On the basis of the WSW Law in the Netherlands each local authority has to provide a work environment for people with a handicap. Classical business for these companies are repackaging, light engineering and construction work, cleaning & catering, the "green business" (maintenance & design and development of parks and public gardens) and all other work that is labour intensive. By law they have to replace (2% of) their workers in "regular industry". 		 
The workforce
What was the clients question?
We need to change our group of first line managers (then mostly civil servants) into people of our target group. This means educating people who have been working on the shop floor for years to manage a small department, group of people of specific tasks. All of these people have some sort of handicap, a few are illiterate, one or two have a mental (behavioural) handicap. We have one year to put the new managers in place. They will have to make the change from subsidy oriented to a commercial company.

How did we answer the brief?
Together with the client and a local polytechnic, we defined a program for management development. This program had next to pure educational aspects, strong behavioural influence, focusing on the new mission and goals. In the training sessions we adapted the language to the specific character of the group. We let them work in groups with hands-on training methods etc.
Next to the general program, we designed special programs for individuals. For some the program was focusing more on technical aspects (how to read and write, reading technical drawings, knowledge of materials etc.), for others more on personal skills like overcoming fear, speaking in public, personal effectiveness, leadership etc. 		The manager
 
What is the result?
The management has been functioning now since 1996. Two of the participants have been replaced because they could not adapt to the change. A few still have personal coaching, but most of the 60 participants function within expectation. Further education on the basis of personal planning. After years of loss the organisation now is more or less breaking even, small profits are forecast for 1998 and 1999.



SYNACT Knaapen Kok Consult
 

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