Wrttembergische UK Limited, the UK branch of the global major insurance company W&W AG, used the Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ32) and 360 tools from SHL to improve its teams’ performance. One definitive outcome was that the teams became more cohesive, improved communication and achieved greater harmony at work.
In a market as competitive as insurance, our main differential is our people and our teams. Their training and development is vital to our business success, said Verity Lewis, Head of Wrttembergische Human Resources. Teamwork and relationship building are so important for Wrttembergische - based in London since 1973 - that the Company decided to develop some team-building exercises using OPQ32 for, initially, their financial and IT teams.
The SHL OPQ32 and 360 questionnaires were the chosen tools for this exercise. The OPQ32 feedback was provided by Verity Lewis and Lisa Cox, Wrttembergische Human Resources Officer, and the 360 process was given by an SHL trained consultant.
I have been an SHL trained practitioner for 20 years now. Having become reacquainted with the PC version of OPQ32, I was thrilled and delighted with the Expert reports as I saw the opportunity to provide a shape to a teambuilding exercise, comments Verity Lewis.
She explains: We used the information given by OPQ32 to compare all the preferred team, leadership and reporting styles and then worked with each team for them to evaluate improved working methods based on this new information and insight. We included the 360 questionnaire on a second and follow-up exercise to build on what had been established earlier and to develop better dialogue. The team and individuals within the team felt much better able to trust each other, which resulted in improved team coherence.
The advantage of the PC version of OPQ32 is speed and confidentiality. It is an excellent system, and after the questionnaire is answered, we can immediately generate the reports, prepare our feedback and get back to colleagues and candidates much faster.
Lisa Cox says they are going to continue using SHL tools to develop their teams: Having just taken the OPQ32 course, I am impressed with the robustness of the programme and the course. There is so much research behind the tests and the information you get from the reports is invaluable.
Paul Levett, SHL Director of Product and Training, said: Wrttembergische UK is a great example of a company where people are really important. By developing its teams, the company is actually allowing people to work in a more productive way. This has further consequences on the quality of the services they provide, because satisfied and well positioned employees connect better with each other and with the clients.
SHL products develop teams at Wrttembergische UK Limited
One definitive outcome was that the teams became more cohesive, improved communication and achieved greater harmony at work
