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Pwani
Redefining
BUSINESS A Publication of Pwani Vol. 14, APRIL 2012
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n the day of writing this article, I Googled the term ‘teamwork’. Within 0.08 seconds I got over 300 million web pages devoted to teamwork! My observation is that the more pages Google gives you, the more complex is a topic. True teamwork is the rarest, most exhilarating, and most productive human activity possible. Every business wants to harness this incredible energy, but achieving such a level of motivation and esprit de corps is not always easy. A team is not just a group of individuals who work at the same location or have the same logo on their business card. A real team is made up of people who may be unequal in experience, talent, or education, but who are equal in their commitment to working together to achieve the goals and good of the organization, each other and their customers. If we are going to be successful, we can no longer look at our organization as departments, divisions, or branch offices. We must look at the bigger picture and resolve to working together in ways we may never have done before. Research has found that when the Mensa IQ Test is given to a group, many “average” people, when working as a team, test at “genius” level or higher. Participants contribute in different ways. Some brainstorm, whereas some work alone and then report back to the group. This proves that a team “becomes a genius when everyone works together.” Teams develop as people get to know one another and develop respect for their differences. It requires commitment and effort, a willingness to accept the uniqueness of others, and an appreciation of diversity. High-functioning teams will establish our company as reliable, internally and externally. This image can then be projected to our customers, vendors, competitors, and communities.
I asked Sim how he managed to keep his people highly motivated in an environment with long, monotonous hours. “I keep them happy,” he said. Now, every manager wants to do this, so I pressed Sim for details. “ I have 2 teams – day shift and night shift. The best team gets their name mentioned on the little ‘wall of fame’ that I have created in the division. Productivity in January was 256 tonnes; in February it was 377 tonnes; and in March, even though we had a ten day breakdown we achieved 455 tonnes. Both teams are fighting to get their names mentioned on the board because they want to feel proud that they have made a difference.” He added, “I give them lots of positive feedback during team meetings that are held once a week.” Sim also ensures that on-line training is done everyday so that each member in his team knows how to operate the machines. In addition, team members are offered learning and professional development opportunities by being cross-trained to operate other machines.
With our changing organization and restructuring, our managers need to build responsible and committed team This issue of Redefining Lives is packed with news about all the members if they want the best performance from them. fantastic and exciting activities that Pwani teams have taken part in this month; so dig in, enjoy and remember that group effort has But how do they go about it? the potential for real genius! A very dynamic, productive example is the soap finishing By Neelma Shah, Editor line team at Kikambala led by Sim Moonesawmy.
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Enjoy Pwani life!
Editorial Team
Editor Neelma Shah
Graphic Designer Fridah Kuria
Assistant Editor Brenda Achieng
Consulting Editor- ICT Jocelyne Muhati
Creative Support Anthony Odeo
Contributors Charity Mwangi
Consulting Editor- Food Aarti Malde
Contributors Andrew Kubai
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Sherehekea Pwani life!
You to Us 28th March 2012 Kwako Pwani Oil products Ltd. Kukushukuru na kukupongeza Ni furaha yangu Kukuandikiaene Nimetumia sabuni yenu kwa bidhaa bora unazoteng zi za. ili sasa na nimefurahi miw Diva Sunshine fruit kwa mie na imekuwa nyororo na laini. sana. Ngozi yangu imeng’aa usi kwenye uso, inaondoa Sabuni hii inaondoa vitu vye pendeza. Marashi yake ni. muasho na harufu yake ina iopenda marashi makali was i wastani kwa watu kama mim mia sabuni mbali mbali lakini Hapo awali nilikuwa nimetuzi yangu ilikuwa rough. Hasa hakuna iliyoniridhisha. Ngo yan gu hujaa vipele, joto na wakati huu wa joto, ngozi ungwadungwa hata kukosa huasha, husikia kama kud a Diva Sunshine Fruit, nilipend amani. Nilipoanza kutumiawik na ha uliis o ash i mbili, mu harufu yake, Baada ya una anza kuwa nyororo. Vipele uso go kido na kuo a nikaanz a kung’aa. Watu wananiuliza vya joto vilisha na uso ukaanz ? Lakini nawambia ni Diva am ni nini ninatumia ama ni creni si siri nimependeza. Sifa Soap-siri ya urembo kwanawasifu kwa kazi yenu njema, inastahili kwa mwenye sifa a zaidi. mzidi kutengeneza vitu bor
Mungu awabariki. , Wenu customer, Prisca Mwachiru Kwako Prisca Mwachiru, kia tarehe 28/3/2012. Tulipokea barua yako uliotuandi a unatumia baadhi ya Tulifurahia sana kujua ya kwamb shine fruit. Tulishukuru bidhaa zetu yani sabuni ya Diva Sun shine fruit imetengeneza sana kujua ya kwamba Diva Sun imekurembesha saidi. ngozi yako, imekuwa Nyororo na zetu na tunakuomba Tunafurahia sifa zako kwa bidhaa ila yako na pia uwaeleze uendelee kuzitumia pamoja na fam marafiki zako wote. Ahsante sana na mungu akubariki. Editor.
Victoria ,
cook at
Shanzu Teacher s Colleg Salit ma e. kes my b good I use 2-2 read and mand 0L. jeric a & Fry M ans of S zi’s taste a alit per stews fo te when I am day rc cooking rice and growing hildren, becaus e kids. I o nly rece fats are great fo these pr ntly foun r oducts c d out th ome fro Dear Vic m a t Pwani O toria, il. I was de lig are refin hted to hear tha ing the li t Pwani’ s produc ves of y assured our gue ts that our s ts . fats are are also chorestr Please be good for ol fr the adult s that yo ee and thus We will u serve. continue to strive consum to build er aware on our ness. Editor
Cyprian
Mecha
The mo tiva anecdota tional message s and l stories are grea them co t! keep ming. Dear Cy prian, Thanks for endeavo the feedback, w ur to kee e p the ne will engagin g and in wsletter formativ abilities. e to bes as t of our Editor
First five respondents from last months newsletter
From left Dickson Elber Patrick Kitumbo & Webster Ndima Charity Mwangi and Zuma Funda
Got something to say? email your comments to pr@pwani.net with you to us in the subject line or write to us at Public Relations P.O. Box 81927 - 80100Mombasa.
www.pwani.net
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Enjoy Pwani life!
Stock Take First Quarter 2012 By Vishal Shah
Stock takes have overtime become a regular activity at Pwani. With every activity, the level of efficiency and accuracy improves, perfecting the process. Let me briefly take you back in time‌ The first major stock take was in September 2011. Then after, the exercise has been repeated every moth with the main purpose to ascertain two major issues. Any Guesses??? One is to confirm how much we hold in stocks and the second is to confirm the effectiveness of our stock control procedures. In 2012, we decided to have quarterly stock takes of similar magnitudes to not only confirm our stock the physical count and enter data at the back holding but also to comply with Corporate Statutory office. Once done variance analysis commenced. requirements of conducting regular stock takes. After the variance tabulation, the real work of the Variance Analysis commenced on Monday 2nd With our new CFO Patrick Mwenda on board, April 2012. Variance analysis is a complicated involvement of Finance would be a priority in the procedure to find out why the Physical count and current as well as future stock takes. On the D-Day, Pastel do not agree.With this information we can the teams gathered at the respective locations in time be able to prevent future variances. for the initial brief before the flagging off the count. The count commenced at 8.15am. All teams at all locations In summary, the event was a major success, diligently conducted the 1st count and 2nd count. Back thumbs up to all involved in one way or another. offices at both Kikambala and Jomvu were a beehive of activities as the completed count sheets started Great Teamwork pouring in. The major task for the day was to complete
Pwani commits to conducting ethical business in Kenya By Neelma Shah
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On the 16th of March 2012, Pwani and several other Kenyan firms came together to sign a statement that committed them to conducting ethical business in Kenya. The Code of Ethics was launched by Martha Karua as part of the National Integrity Pact Project supported by the UN Global Compact Program that Pwani has been a member of since 2009. This code is an important step in improving the business environment by guiding companies on how to do business in an ethical way as it sets the standards for ethically acceptable behaviour and enables the communication of such standards to all stakeholders. By signing up to the Code, Pwani will have the opportunity to undergo training over the next 2 years on how to manage ethics in the company.
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Pwani gives a hand to the
Pili Pili FM Roadshow Pwani vans that accompanied the roadshow Loise Mwadime, Pwani Sales Representative showing of her DJ skills
The excited crowd Entertainment courtesy of Pili Pili FM
Pwani partnered with Pili Pili FM, a new radio station based in the coast for promotional and marketing purposes. This was to create a buzz around Mombasa & Malindi about Pili Pili FM which went on for two days over Easter.
No Stumbling, We are Stepping-up By Anthony Odeo
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n life, we all focus on goals that we would like to achieve, albeit against all odds. While it is ok to fall to challenges as stumbling blocks, it is prudent to take them as stepping stones to higher heights. For the production team in Kikambala, there is no better way to describe their case than that of a team turning a challenge into a stepping-stone. When they lost their team leader, the Late Vinod few weeks ago, they pulled together and ensured a smooth running of affairs just as if nothing happened.
Ramesh Kumar, Senior Executive – Soap Noodles Plant, has had to put in more day-hours as he was a night-shifter. He has foregone his ‘me-time’ for the team.
Rakesh Dubey, has stepped in to oversee production besides his regular assignment as Senior Executive Quality; Rajesh Yadav, Senior Executive – Fatty Acid Plant chose to postpone his annual leave which was due 1st April to support the team;
If this team’s spirit is anything to go by, we all need to tap into our team-leaders’ skills and guidance so that we can actualize a smooth succession incase of their absence. I guess, the team leaders need to train their team members as well. We all need to be drivers – not passengers. As they say, prevention is better than cure. www.pwani.net 5
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Besides the three, the other cogs in the wheel include Jacob Musee, Kalu Chiti, Herman Mungumi, William Simanyire, James Mahero, Safari Willie, Christopher Mulwa and Ndarare Munga. They all have exceeded expectations. Kudos team!
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Knowing me knowing you
Enjoy Pwani life!
By Brenda Achieng
Q: Please outline your typical day at work. A: On arriving at work, I do ‘Gemba’ walks to check the status of the factory – this affords me an understanding of how things were in the past 12hrs. I then attend departmental team meetings where I get to share tips on EHS as I get feedback from staff. I do have a few minutes to check mails. Then I review the performance on various aspects. Occasionally, I have to leave the office and make rounds to ensure everything is running smoothly … that is why whenever you call I would tell you that I am in the field. On a daily basis, I have to look for new developments in this ever changing field so as to upgrade our standards accordingly.
Geoffrey Wanyonyi In this issue of Redefining Business, we begin a new column to get to know more our fellow employees. This month we had a chat with Geoffrey Wanyonyi, Executive - EHS Q: Tell us a little bit more about yourself? Who is Geoffrey? What makes him tick? A: I am humble, outgoing and can accommodate everyone regardless of his or her position in society. I am a family man with one daughter (Dr. Nakhungu). I have a masters degree am still aiming higher. Q: EHS: Other than the Acronym EHS most of us don’t know what it entails. What exactly is EHS? A: It simply stands for Environmental Health and Safety. It is a slightly new phenomenon in most companies in Kenya. The EHS department is responsible for leadership, planning, and coordinating various programs, which promote or maintain a reasonably safe and healthful working environment for all staff, visitors and neighbouring communities as well as promote practices that conserve the natural environment. We evaluate potentially hazardous conditions, unsafe acts and coordinate the implementation of programs to reduce work-related injuries and illnesses. EHS is also responsible for interacting with regulatory agencies and interpreting state and local statutes, providing a consultative resource to the Pwani community in meeting these requirements.
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Q: Any special skills required working in the EHS department? A: EHS is new to many and implementation of its programs is somewhat complex. Because it involves working with managers across the company, from manufacturing to finance, communication skills are critical. He/She should be able to articulate issues clearly for example the finance person to be convinced to release funding for EHS programs; otherwise, many activities which do not present obvious financial gains could stall. Other than internal communication, EHS plays a key role in bringing harmony between the company and neighbours/government agencies. As such, he /she must have the ability to work closely with lead agencies and the public. In this position, the person must also demonstrate excellent leadership, as well as a positive attitude to ensure that programs instituted are well received and used by employees. The EHS in-charge must also have an excellent understanding of how to link business operations and EHS management and most importantly, a strong familiarity with OSHA and EMCA regulations and how the regulations apply to the industry. Q: You are good at what you do, it is very important to strike a balance between your office work and personal life. What do you do on your day off? Do you go fishing, clubbing, swimming? A: This job drains energy, as you have to be on the move checking the performance of the systems. At the end of the day I normally have a good rest listening to gospel music. As a scholar, I would not turn my eyes away from books and doing some scholarly write-ups. Q: Arent you afraid of attacks by crawling insects and snakes mostly found in bushy and wet areas of the fields! A: I love nature and it feels good to have it in totality. Crawling insects and creatures play a crucial role in completing the ecosystem. Sometimes I encounter creatures that I am left wondering what they are, what they feed on and what their purpose in the ecosystem is. Of all that I do come across snakes are the most dreadful and monitor lizards.
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Furahia Pwani life! Grand Finale The 22nd of March marked the final day for the Furahia Pwani life! competition that had been running for the past four months. The awards ceremony was held at the Panafric Hotel in Nairobi and was attended by all the runners up and winning teams from the 1st and 2nd rounds of the competition.
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3 1. Furahia awards, Gikomba Matt 1st price, China 2. Furahia awards, Matuu Matt 2nd price, Zanzibar 3. Furahia awards, KassMatt 3rd price, Diani 4. Pwani Team at the event
Magunandu Pride of Diva
By Polycarp Nyawuana
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Magunas Supermarket Kerugoya has bagged the Diva Display of the Month for April 2012.The outlet mounted an outstanding display for all our Diva packs. The outlet Manager Mr. Kamau said they were inspired by the just ended Furahia Pwani life! Display Competition. “Our sister branch Magunandu supermarket was runnersup in the Mountain Region from the 1st draw and was invited for the Awards Gala in Nairobi,� he said. Mr. Kamau was delighted that their display has been recognised and commended by Pwani. All the Magunandu stores have put up special displays for Fresh Fri, Mpishi Poa, Frymate and Diva. As a result, Diva sales in the branches have really gone up tramendously.
Diva display at Magunandu - Kerugoya
Magunandu Director, Mama Muthoni was also happy to note that her team was self-motivated. Magunandu is one of our leading Channel Champions based in Zone 2 which covers the larger Central province and parts of Nairobi. www.pwani.net
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Teamwork lessons from animals
By Bena Mecha
One tiger is able to take down a lion but five tigers cannot take down five lions because tigers operate solo while lions work together to bring down one tiger at a time. While we cannot change the stripes of a tiger - we cannot change their basic nature. What if tigers united? Rhinos can run at thirty miles per hour which is pretty fast considering the weight they are pulling. They just have one little problem, they can only see thirty feet in front of them. You would think they would be too timid to pick up full steam, that their inability to see far enough ahead would paralyze them to immobility. But with that horn pointing the way, rhinos run forward full steam without apprehension, which leads us to their name. Rhinos moving together at full speed are known as a crash. Even when they are hanging around enjoying the watershed, they are called a crash because of their potential. An unstoppable force! What if we charged forward and
did what needs to be done thirty feet at a time till we finish the full length of this year? A group of wolves on the other hand are called a pack. In their world, everyone does not want to be a leader. Their roles are well defined, their communication refined and they have 100% success every time they go on a hunt because each member does what they do best to support the pack. They work together towards a common goal. What if everybody played their part? On the other hand, a group of buzzards waiting around together to feast on leftover carnage is called a committee. This to me explains a lot of problems in organizations…a lot of committees waiting around to live off human carnage. What if we just stopped spending long hours discussing what is already damaged and who to pin it on? (Adapted from the book “The Barbarian Way” by Erwin Raphael McManus)
Kitchen Corner
Minestrone Soup
By Aarti Malde
Ingredients 2 teaspoons FRESH FRI oil 1 onion, chopped 1 carrot, chopped 2 sticks celery, chopped 6 cups (1.25L) vegetable stock 400g can crush tomatoes 310g bean mix (Githeri Mix) 100g small penne pasta Salt and cracked black pepper as per taste
Method 1. Heat FRESH FRI oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add onion, carrot and celery. 2. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until just starting to soften - do not brown. 3. Pour in stock and tomatoes, and simmer for 10 minutes. 4. Add beans and pasta and cook for 6-8 minutes or until pasta is tender. 5. Season with salt and pepper. 6. Serve hot.
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Teamwork Wordsearch By Andrew Kubai
U C T P R O G R E S S M I P
P C O H E S I V E L Y Q U R
M A G L G E Z O V R N A R O
O S E O L M R E S P E C T D
T G T B I A M Y A E R K I U
I T H A X O B Q G C G A J C
V K E S F G R O U P Y I G T
A P R V U F Y A R Y K E O I
T U C I L P K L P A M S A V
I R N S V E P L O I T L L E
O A Z I A C C O M P L I S H
N S R O T E A M R L I M O X
J L A N E Y S E A T Z E G N
X E S P R I T D E C O R P S
Can you spot these words? 1. Collaboration 2. Cohesively 3. Group 4. Accopmplish 5. Synergy 6. Together 7. Respect 8. Staff 9. Progress
10. Productive 11. Goals 12. Esprit de corps 13. Support 14. Unity 15. Motivation 16. Vision 17. Team
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