The power of conversations

Drawing on our Culture, where being genuine and showing openness support everything we do, we are fully committed to building strong and trusting relationships with our clients, partners, and team members.

We believe in the power of meaningful conversations and in being bold, challenging the status quo through passionate debate, which fuels and deepens our vision for the future.

We are convinced that dialogue and discussion add depth to our actions and decisions. And because we do, we foster an environment where creative ideas can readily sprout, and where everyone feels free to share thoughts, challenge ideas, ask questions, as well as understand and reach out to one another, moving forward together.

When we fully engage in these straightforward and authentic conversations, we make things happen and shape the future.

— We foster an environment where creative ideas can readily sprout, and where everyone feels free to share thoughts, challenge ideas, ask questions, as well as understand and reach out to one another, moving forward together. —

Team members are at the core of our strategic planning

Our focus on conversations is fully captured in our Strategic Planning Model. This iterative model has been systematically part of our process since 1991, drawing on alternate conversations between the various stakeholders within the company — from the Leadership Team, through leaders of business groups and team members, to the board of directors — to help us define our strategies and objectives.

Sharing our views on the company’s goals, as well as on the challenges and opportunities we face, allows us to develop a common understanding of our reality, from market trends to client needs. This enables us to focus our efforts, move forward in step with one another, and stay relevant for both our current and future clients.

VISION 2027

As we were elaborating VISION 2027 — our current strategic plan —, our goal was to engage as many team members as possible in these discussions. More than 1 000 team members worldwide have contributed to the conversation either through our collaborative online platform or team workshops, thus helping shape the strategic direction of Premier Tech.

This dynamic of ongoing dialogue across the organization generates debates of ideas that fuel reflections, encourage us to challenge ourselves, and give our planning process its full value.

— Sharing our views on the company’s goals, as well as on the challenges and opportunities we face, allows us to develop a common understanding of our reality, from market trends to client needs. —

Occupational Health and Safety

VISION 2027 includes, among its goals, the improvement of our occupational health and safety (OHS) performance by implementing a proactive approach that helps anticipate, prevent and manage risks on a systematic and ongoing basis. Conversations between leadership teams, production team members, and health and safety experts from our business groups are central to this process.

By engaging with team members who have first-hand experience on the ground — and a thorough understanding of their work environment and practices —, we identified risks and developed solutions based on the best OHS practices of our business units. We draw on these discussions to make observations and build action plans based on the needs and realities at our various sites while also remaining aligned with Premier Tech’s goals.

This approach not only delivers tangible improvements in the workplace, but also yields compelling results with respect to training and change management. By being an active part of the solution, teams retain information more readily and are more naturally inclined to adopt new practices.

— By being an active part of the solution, teams retain information more readily and are more naturally inclined to adopt new practices. —

Sharing skills and expertise

Our global reach and diverse operations across multiple industries have enabled us to build talent density and diversity within the organization.

To capitalize on this wealth of knowledge and broaden our horizons, we develop cross-functional synergies between teams, encouraging dialogue and discussion among experts in different fields in the interest of mutual learning and growth. By improving our collective intelligence, we can fully leverage our potential and support long-term growth.

Sustainability

Within the horizontal sustainability team, for example, leaders from the various business groups bring expertise specific to their field. It leads to meaningful conversations which allow pursuing innovative solutions and implementing concrete initiatives.

This horizontal approach promotes a broad vision while at the same time leaving each group free to adapt its undertakings and actions to the needs of its industries and markets.

— To capitalize on this wealth of knowledge and broaden our horizons, we develop cross-functional synergies between teams, encouraging dialogue and discussion among experts in different fields in the interest of mutual learning and growth. —

Management Program

This collaboration philosophy is also part of how the University of Premier Tech has created a training program to help managers develop and acquire new management and team leadership skills. This nearly two-year program has been in place since 2015.

Through training modules and workshops, managers in different fields can talk over their respective reality and challenges and learn from best practices within the company. The program also gives them an opportunity to build strong relationships and grow their network.

Once the program finishes, peer coaching sessions are planned to keep the conversations going daily and identify opportunities to work together.

Creating a common vision

In addition to encouraging ongoing informal conversations, Premier Tech sets aside times throughout the year for team members to get together and deepen their understanding of strategic decisions. This helps them better understand the company’s direction while always keeping the focus on our objectives.

Top Managers Meeting

Every February, Premier Tech business leaders from around the world gather for the Top Managers Meeting to give themselves perspective on the evolution of the markets and industries in which the company operates and engage in conversations on subjects of common interest. This event is an occasion for these leaders to connect and contribute to the company’s collective intelligence while helping build a shared vision and strategy. They then relay these business strategies to their teams so that they, in turn, can align their goals with the company’s objectives and implement concrete action plans.

Annual Meetings

In the spring, each business group gathers their teams for a series of annual meetings. During these meetings, which are held at various home bases and webcast around the world, our leaders share information on topics such as the fiscal year that just ended, strategic planning, launch of new products and services, and market development projects. Team members participate in the discussion, openly asking questions about current and upcoming initiatives. The meetings also provide a unique opportunity to highlight and celebrate our collective successes and recognize team members who stood out for their commitment over the past year.

— Premier Tech sets aside times throughout the year for team members to get together and deepen their understanding of strategic decisions. —

PT Summit

In the fall, we gather horizontal teams for the PT Summit, an annual event where we share knowledge about specific topics and explore new opportunities for synergies and the acceleration of our strategic plan. The PT Summit reinforces horizontal collaboration between managers and professionals across Premier Tech, helping us align our practices and learn from each another.

Our supply chain business partners also join in this event every other year so that they can meet with our teams and discuss about various subjects. These gatherings foster lasting relationships and pave the way for innovative solutions that meet industry needs and create value for our clients.

Staying connected

In addition to these key moments, we have also developed other ways to nurture our conversations and help team members stay connected and informed about the latest developments at Premier Tech.

Team members can learn more about the status of current projects and about technological advances in our areas of expertise through, for example, podcasts and videos featuring Premier Tech leaders and experts. All team members are also invited to take part in discussions on sustainability through an online community where they can fuel our thoughts on the matter and develop a shared understanding of the latest developments in the field.

Improving collaboration and performance

We believe that cohesion between teams and individuals is key to ensuring the longevity of Premier Tech and delivering on our strategic plans. Time is set aside to meet throughout the year to maintain an ongoing conversation between managers and their team members and ensure everyone stays aligned with their business goals and is supported in their professional development.

Collaboration and Performance Approach

The Collaboration and Performance Approach annual cycle starts with a meeting between a team member and their manager to discuss individual development, goals and performance, and set objectives for the coming year.

Team members are then invited to two informal meetings, known as Walk and Talks, with their manager. These meetings can take many forms, the idea being to create an environment that fosters open communication in a less formal space.

Walk and Talks are an opportunity for team members to take a step back from ongoing projects and identify the main challenges they are facing in relation to their annual objectives. These meetings let managers check in with team members and ensure they have the resources they need to achieve their objectives and contribute to the team’s success.

— Time is set aside to meet throughout the year to maintain an ongoing conversation between managers and their team members and ensure everyone stays aligned with their business goals and is supported in their professional development. —

*This story is from the Premier Tech Report 2024.