30 places you want to work (Will SEQIA be one of them?)

Good Business website recently published a list of 30 places that they would want to work. To develop their list they came up with ten categories that each company was judged on. Obviously not all companies do well in every category but it still remains an interesting list.

I mentioned in an earlier post that Learning and Teaching Scotland and HMIE are being brought together to form the new Scottish Education Quality and Improvement Agency (SEQIA). I wonder if SEQIA will make it into the top 2011 places to work and I hope that some of the criteria suggested below make it into its founding principles.

The list of ten criteria are:

• It exists at the intersection of creativity and impact. The solutions it finds to real problems are original, inspiring and transformative.

• It cares as much about people and the planet as it does about profit (or in the case of non-profits efficiency). But profit (or efficiency) is really important. Its actual mission – not just the way it operates – and its products or services make the world a better place.

• It values transparency. Openness and accountability are core values.

• People talk about it. And as often as not, it’s a part of that conversation about itself.

• It loves its employees. From legendary perks to fair treatment to fiercely bred loyalty to total mission buy-in, it has made itself a place people are happy to go to every day.

• People love it, viscerally. Emotional reactions to its products and services are not uncommon. Evangelism come naturally. You respect your friends for working there. And maybe your even a little jealous.

• It plays well with others. Collaboration and sharing are common practices.

• It uses smart technology smartly. Everyone can use social media and Google docs; these guys do it meaningfully to drive their business.

• It’s appropriately located. It’s in a city that makes sense for the kind of business it does (especially as that relates to reducing travel needs), and builds a strong relationship with community.

• Design is important. From its logo to its website, it understands that one of the most powerful tools at its disposal is a refined aesthetic sense.

 

Comments

[Juliet Robertson]

What an interesting list. I think it's a little narrow in that there's a whole lot more to an organisation than the criteria given - which does sound a little pro-Google (as an outsider looking in) as if this organisation is the ideal. Also what's one idea of a heavenly workplace is another person's hell.

The question that springs to mind (in a addition to the SEQIA comment you made) is which are the best places to work in Scotland especially in the education sector? My suspicion is that an outdoor education centre would rankly highly if it's got the right ethos.

The questions above fail to take into account the full impact of physical context. So an urban area may be fine...but greenspace is needed and an area that isn't a ghetto where one would fear entering and leaving the building ... hmm.

Will SEQIA rank highly? I've no idea. Do HMIe inspectors and LTS staff love their work and place of work? I don't know. It all remains to be seen. I do hope both parties are properly and fully consulted and meaningfully involved in the changes...we don't want any bad-tempered inspectors walking into schools if at all possible...!

[Bill]

A thought provoking list, and yes how will it reflect on SEQIA. As Juliet notes and excellent opportunity to consult with the people ( who will let's face it makes this new venture succeed or fail!)in the organisation, on there key engagement drivers and of course how these can represented in the organisations values.

There could be interesting considering possible "tensions" on mixing very different remits, which highlights the need for an organisational development input at the early stages if the beast of change management is to be tamed!

Love the idea on green space though - jackets provided of course ...Brrrr

[Anonymous]

This blog is becoming increasingly irrelevant by the day. At 5pm on a Thursday you found the time to post on your personal blog this nonsense. I applaud you for getting away with it.

[Ollie Bray]

Hi Anonymous, thanks for the note! If you go through my blog posts you will see that many of them are written on the hour. It is not because I have 'great timing' but because I write them in my own time and then tend to schedules the posts for 7am, 5pm or 6pm.

What shall I write about - happy to take requests!

[Nick]

I worked at an OEC many years ago and the best thing was as I was outside most of the time, so I did not need any Striplights on ! The scurge of so many offices and schools.