Do all Aussies do business like this?
Discussion
I've been here nearly two months now, working with a small business that supplies many larger companies who, in turn, supply the big mining companies.
In the UK I worked for a business in a very similar position, supplying other business who in turn supplied someone else, so you wouldnt think the way business is done to be so different between the two.
The turnover of these two businesses and that of their immediate customers was pretty similar - So its not like I'm trying to compare Mercedes Benz with a one-man-band.
However, I've noticed the following:
1) Meetings that should take 30 minutes take an hour. There is a lot of "I suppose that'll do" attitude and no real drive to get things done.
2) Everything is far too relaxed at the start of a project which then turns into a mad rush towards the end.
3) People turn up to meetings with arms full of paper, throw it all over the table and make hand written notes on a printed copy of a word document - It seems they dont know how to remove their laptop from their own office.
4) No one actually seems to know what they're doing - I dont mean the technical people and engineers, I mean the people selling stuff and the people "managing" the projects. They have a vague idea of what its all about but they just look around the room expecting someone else to know.
5) People are happy to carry on as things have always been, despite obvious failings on similar projects previously. No one seems to care if they make the same mistakes time and time again, as long as it gets done in the end, it'll be just fine.
Is this unique to the WA engineering supply chain? A colleague used to work for Peugeot in France and says he found it all incredibly frustrating when he arrived 3 years ago - So much so that he's looking to go back.
In the UK I worked for a business in a very similar position, supplying other business who in turn supplied someone else, so you wouldnt think the way business is done to be so different between the two.
The turnover of these two businesses and that of their immediate customers was pretty similar - So its not like I'm trying to compare Mercedes Benz with a one-man-band.
However, I've noticed the following:
1) Meetings that should take 30 minutes take an hour. There is a lot of "I suppose that'll do" attitude and no real drive to get things done.
2) Everything is far too relaxed at the start of a project which then turns into a mad rush towards the end.
3) People turn up to meetings with arms full of paper, throw it all over the table and make hand written notes on a printed copy of a word document - It seems they dont know how to remove their laptop from their own office.
4) No one actually seems to know what they're doing - I dont mean the technical people and engineers, I mean the people selling stuff and the people "managing" the projects. They have a vague idea of what its all about but they just look around the room expecting someone else to know.
5) People are happy to carry on as things have always been, despite obvious failings on similar projects previously. No one seems to care if they make the same mistakes time and time again, as long as it gets done in the end, it'll be just fine.
Is this unique to the WA engineering supply chain? A colleague used to work for Peugeot in France and says he found it all incredibly frustrating when he arrived 3 years ago - So much so that he's looking to go back.
A majority do, yes.
I recon it's down to a lack of competition for jobs (so many people are needed, that a rubbish person is better than no person) and if you can earn a good wage for 'drifting' along, a lot of people will. Seems to be in every profession though, not just engineering.
But on the other side, in my contract role it's the opposite. If it's not done properly, you'll be out of a job. It's good though as I think I've learned a lot in 18 months and I've improved my game massively since being here.
Also, if you come over with the UK work ethics, you should stand out easily and be able to step up to bigger and better things.
WA = Wait Awhile, it sometimes feels like I'm in Spain.
I recon it's down to a lack of competition for jobs (so many people are needed, that a rubbish person is better than no person) and if you can earn a good wage for 'drifting' along, a lot of people will. Seems to be in every profession though, not just engineering.
But on the other side, in my contract role it's the opposite. If it's not done properly, you'll be out of a job. It's good though as I think I've learned a lot in 18 months and I've improved my game massively since being here.
Also, if you come over with the UK work ethics, you should stand out easily and be able to step up to bigger and better things.
WA = Wait Awhile, it sometimes feels like I'm in Spain.
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