Workplace productivity driver 6 - Networking and collaboration

The New Zealand dairy industry has improved farm productivity over many years through the exchange of ideas and information with others through discussion groups, field days and working in with neighbours.

Networking and collaboration have important features in reducing costs and providing access to new ideas and innovation. Many of the profiled employers were particularly noteworthy in the way they use networking and collaboration to enhance their human resource management.

Several were members of employers groups that were proactively working together to enhance employment opportunities in their communities and several had built strong personal networks over their time in the industry.

Networking and collaborating includes:

Building relationships with other farmers and industry bodies
Joining regional or national industry groups
Creating good business relationships with suppliers and other organisations that add value to your business
Getting involved in local, regional or national government agencies or programmes

Employer groups:
"We have a large network of contacts built up over many years and so word-of-mouth is a very important source of employees."
"It's about encouraging good HR practice and to offer people opportunities to progress their careers within an area, rather than uprooting their families."

Employers who seldom need to advertise for staff:
"We have advertised only once in 13 years and have used pre-employment course trainees. We are now approached by potential employees."
"We employ trainees from a pre-employment course that we work with - it enables me to know their background and a bit about them."