Acumen are specialists in optimising organisational performance through improved people and culture strategies and work practices.
Whether your business is planning to grow, venture into new markets, downsize, improve performance and safety, negotiate new enterprise agreements or requiring new skills and capabilities, we can develop the necessary human resource strategies to achieve intended outcomes.
Through our excellent experience and knowledge in human resource management we provide the following services:
Acumen is adept in supporting businesses define, review and set their direction. We develop and implement pragmatic human resource management practices with the strategic objectives of an organisation to ensure people and culture related strategies are optimised and undertaken in a planned and systematic manner.
We have undertaken business modelling, organisational design and reviews to create new organisations, re-align organisations following major changes such as Machinery of Government amalgamations and company mergers / acquisitions or simply to create greater efficiencies and productivity.
Our services extend to:
- Structuring – reviewing existing structure(s) or designing new structural options that best meet current and future business needs. We carefully consider the managerial, professional, technical and administrative skills and capabilities required for business, and how best to arrange your important resources.
- Workforce planning - we have well developed frameworks and methodologies for assisting clients define and plan for the future. We actively engage with our clients in assessing future workforce needs in terms of capacity and capability.
- Job analysis and design - be it a single position or an entire workforce of over 400, we have demonstrated that we have the knowledge and skills to review any position, consider the business requirements and design new position descriptions. We also bring an extensive knowledge in classifying positions and ensuring the appropriate delegations, authority and remuneration are applied.
At the heart of many high performing organisations are strong foundations that provide clarity and direction for staff to perform at their best. Acumen has substantial experience in working with organisations to develop, review and embed contemporary frameworks and tools that support leaders and employees work collaboratively and efficiently towards agreed goals.
Our services extend to:
- Corporate values -we work with business leaders to define their core values and support them in translating the values into the workplace to build their desired culture. Our work also extends to facilitating workplace teams and engaging with employees to build understanding and commitment.
- Enterprise Agreements - we have substantial experience in preparing Enterprise Agreements, and the facilitation of agreed outcomes with employees, employee representative groups and other stakeholders.
- Contracts – whether a simple stand-alone contract for one position, or the creation of contracts for an entire workforce, Acumen has the experience and capability to develop the structure, job descriptions and employment contracts to meet your business needs.
- Policies, procedures and processes – we recognise the importance of having the right foundations to guide best practice human resource management. We are experienced in developing, reviewing and implementing contemporary human resource frameworks to guide the strategic, tactical and operational aspects of your organisation
Our approach in governance is to develop solutions that are simple to understand and support good leadership and management. It is also equipping and enabling both human resource professionals and business leaders with the necessary knowledge and skills to enhance their ability to build great teams and committed employees.
Acquiring and retaining talented people remains a major challenge for organisations today. Acumen is well placed to assist your organisation with strategies and support to attract, develop and retain your most valuable asset – your people.
Our services extend to:
- Recruitment - Acumen support organisations with their recruitment and selection processes. Our focus is always to ensure that the organisation selects the best possible applicant for a vacancy and that the selection process is as streamlined as possible to minimise demands on internal staff. Acumen manages selection process for executive and senior staff, middle management positions, technical and professional positions and administrative support positions.
- Onboarding - we can design and implement tools and techniques that support the onboarding of staff and ensure that their induction and first few months are a positive experience.
- Performance Management – Acumen has a long history in providing support for the design or re-design performance management systems and processes. With our assistance employees have been able to obtain role clarity by aligning their performance and work expectations with key organisational goals and strategic objectives and managers have been assisted in providing support to their employee through clearly determining developmental needs, career aspirations and interests.
- Training and development - Acumen assists organisations to align their training and development efforts with the organisation’s strategic direction and business and operational objectives. We can assist organisation through the provision of formal training courses and programs, facilitation and on the job training.
- Mentoring and coaching - due to our experience in both the private and public sectors and at senior management levels, Acumen is able to provide a breadth of mentoring and coaching support covering general management and leadership, financial, information and human resource management and communications and media liaison.
- Diversity and equity – Acumen is well aware of the legislative requirements in terms of diversity and equity and also the organisational benefits of embracing these concepts. We have developed diversity and equity plans and have provided a review of such plans for various organisations.
Our strength is in integrating direction and people, processes and systems. We actively work with leaders to communicate plans, goals and objectives and engage with staff in building alignment and commitment to a better future.
Employee wellbeing services cover a range of programs and processes but also incorporates Acumen’s philosophy of inclusion, consultation and collaboration when undertaking our assignments. By having such processes, and ensuring transparent decision making, we believe that positive staff morale is able to be maintained and that staff will support the outcomes of our assignments.
Our services extend to:
- Employee relations - given our long history in the human resource management field, the Directors at Acumen are able to provide support for organisations in terms of the contractual relationship between employers and employees. Acumen is particularly well placed to consider legislative requirements and conditions of employment as outlined in Awards, Enterprise Agreements and other policy documents. Acumen Directors are also skilled and experienced in developing Enterprise Agreements.
- OSH - improving an organisation’s occupational health and safety standards is good for business and creates higher employee morale. Acumen consultants can provide support in terms of auditing, assessing risks and developing policies and programs.
- Transparent decision making and employee Involvement – two fundamental principles of how Acumen does business is to ensure transparent decision making and the involved of affected employees. Generally this is achieved through facilitated discussions, review, evaluation and reporting back outcomes and recommendations. Acumen has undertaken numerous reviews, both large and small where this has ensured good employee relations.
It is important that offboarding activities are undertaken in a sensitive and supportive manner ensuring respect for the individual and the desire to assist the individual with a smooth transition to another stage of their life.
Our services extend to:
- Transition to retirement and retirement - Acumen consultants can provide counselling and planning services to assist employees to transition to retirement.
- Voluntary severance – Acumen consultants have experience in providing case management for redeployees to assist them in their decision making as to whether to take a voluntary severance or to seek other employment. If a redeployee wishes to find other employment, Acumen consultants can assist them by providing coaching and support in preparing applications, preparing for interviews and in seeking alternative employment.
- Termination – Acumen consultants can provide employers with support with termination processes. It is important that these processes are well managed to ensure a satisfactory outcome for the organisation. It is also important that existing employees recognise the fairness with which these processes are undertaken.
