Case study - World Famous Breakfast Food Supplier (WFBFS)

Business need

This WFBFS recognised a need to enhance the calibre of front line managers in their largest UK plant in order to remain competitive in the marketplace. The WFBFS decided to restructure and create a new management role called Team Leader who would be responsible for approximately 30 reports covering different manufacturing and logistics processes. The WFBFS’ vision was that their Team Leaders would be capable of managing the people and the plant ‘round the clock’ with 4 Team Leaders reporting to one Shift Manager per shift.

The WFBFS recognised that the new Team Leaders would be drawn partly from existing staff and partly from new hires but needed help from an external partner to identify the right people and to launch the new role with an appropriate and effective process for selection and development.

MaST solution

MaST designed a competence based assessment centre. This enabled the WFBFS to identify the right calibre of people from among its current Area Leaders to move into the Team Leader role and to ensure that they only brought in the best candidates from outside to be leaders at this level. As the project progressed, MaST and the WFBFS together realised that in order to embed the deep change in approach to management that had been envisioned, the skills of the new Team Leaders would need to be developed. MaST designed and delivered a series of four modules: Team leading; Managing Performance; The Team Leader as a Communicator; Improving Efficiency & Effectiveness. These programmes were key not only in content but also in developing the team spirit, common standards and sharing best practice across the Team Leader population and bringing together those who were internally and externally recruited.

Outcome

There has been a change in management style at the WFBFS plant from reactive to proactive. The new Team Leaders are now skilled delegators, which means that they are able to look ahead and plan whilst at the same time developing skills and confidence in their reports. This, along with other changes, such as improved management information has led to a perception of a change in culture at the plant to a more business-focussed approach. Senior management, inspired by the transformation are working with MaST on an ongoing basis, giving Team Leaders the opportunity of one to one coaching in order to ensure that development continues.