Name: David Langdon PKS
Area of business: Professional Services/Consulting - Management
Website: www.dlpks.ie
A Quality Approach
From the moment a new employee enters the hallowed premises of Davis Langdon PKS, orientation and understanding of the firm's core values and traditions are vital, says Declan Phillips, director of finance.
Establishing trust, Phillips explains, is hugely important due to the sheer scale of the construction projects the company engages in, as well as the capital commitment that goes with it.
"Getting employees up and running builds their confidence," says Phillips. "From the moment they get here, they are provided with an orientation pack, the staff handbook and an induction presentation from the managing director and various team leaders."
Regular performance and development reviews are tied into the overall company goals; according to Phillips, they are essential for aligning staff performance goals with those of the business.
"It's important that this is a two-way process: what the employee has to say matters just as much as what the company has to say. There is an ethos of continuous improvement at Davis Langdon PKS and these discussions are important for planning work, prioritising projects, setting deadlines and working within a team. They also impact other areas such as finance and administration. Sharing technical knowledge is another vital aspect."
In terms of personnel management, Phillips believes it is important to espouse such virtues as courtesy and a willingness to work with others. Fairness is engrained in the culture of Davis Langdon PKS.
"Because of the business we are in, the workload can be enormous. Ensuring it is balanced can only be done through communication, developing relationships and having a strong, positive approach."
If staff members work in a positive environment, where they see the opportunity to develop, this can help Davis Langdon PKS achieve its business goals more rapidly, says Phillips. A central tenet of this is how the firm's employees engage with the staff of key clients.
"When a staff member takes on a project, we encourage them to act with integrity. In our business you have to be as open and accurate as possible about how much a project is going to cost. There's a passion and commitment to showing integrity and dedication in what you do.
"This comes from a long-term value within the firm of leading by example. Senior staff members believe in working substantially harder than new staff, and drive home that belief by demonstrating measurable value on a project."
The company has developed an internet-based training programme called the Einstein Sustainability Module that encourages staff to look at environmentally sustainable methods of quantity surveying.
"Two years ago we looked at the whole idea of going to a carbon-neutral base. This way CO2 emissions are lower in new buildings. We've identified that the planet has finite resources and encourage all staff members to advise clients of this," Phillips says.
