Culture change - can it drive cost efficiencies?
Culture is what people do when no one is looking. Most of us want to do the right thing, but misaligned interests and habitual mistrust can get in the way of that.
The resounding answer was "yes", from a room representing the rail supply chain and rail clients yesterday.
Highlights from a rich conversation...
- Culture is what people do when no one is looking. Most of us want to do the right thing, but misaligned interests and habitual mistrust can get in the way of that.
- Transactional behaviours drive inefficiencies and errors that can negatively impact safety, quality and costs.
- We heard examples of poor planning and last-minute requests that made delivery more complicated than it needed to be! But we also heard stories where better culture is already saving money.
- Skills gaps are real and making delivery more difficult. There's a chicken-and-egg link to rail culture.
Our Commercial Partnerships Sounding Board is helping to ensure that the voice of the supply chain is heard as we work towards a reformed railway with the Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom and Network Rail.
Changing culture isn't a quick fix, but it’s clear from these conversations that we can all work towards a better culture throughout the supply chain – partners, buyers, and suppliers – by challenging behaviours and building better, more collaborative working relationships.