Fun at the Fair
Ferry de Vries - 'We've had
enormous interest from people
throughout the organization.
I think people appreciate that
communication is becoming the
essential element in every
marketthatwearetrying to
serve.'
knowledge fair
Even as we prepare to set off on a phase of intensive growth, it
is important to pause and consider our strengths and
weaknesses; for each colleague to better understand what
others are doing; and for all of us to focus on how we can
effectively interact in order to provide superb customer value
at the end of the day.
Last months' 'Knowledge Fair'
in the Utrecht office helped
provide an enjoyable context
for this exercise. Teamwork
was its overarching theme -
and there was a consensus
among the 750 participants
from Utrecht branch and head
office that the combination of
cooperation and customer
orientation holds the key to
future prosperity.
The Knowledge Fair was not
designed as your ordinary
annual staff gathering, says
Rob Niesert, who spent several
tireless weeks organizing the
event. The event was a unique
combination of work and play,
and, while everyone was
encouraged to have a good
time at the weeks' end, they
were also subtly reminded of
the intensive teamwork that
will be required to support the
growth phase ahead.
THEMATIC MEETING
POINTS
There were dozens of thematic
meeting points with interactive
video installations - 43 stands
in all (such as a Food and
Agribusiness Square and an
Administration Village) -
where the sum of Rabobank
knowledge, in the form of
products, services, concepts
and even working modes were
all openly displayed.
There were buffets with exotic
food and drink between the
stands. There were bands,
swinging music and dance.
Successful teamwork, the event
suggested, can also be
dynamic, interactive and
indeed fun.
The teamwork theme was ^1
reinforced at the earliest stages
of planning Along with their
invitation to the event, each
participant received a
rectangular piece of glazed tile,
which formed one piece of a
larger puzzle. Upon being
greeted at the entrance to the
fair, participants were invited
to contribute their tiles to all
of the others. Affixed to a
wall, they formed a huge
mosaic that produced a
symbolic message that came
clear when the last pieces were
fixed into place by the 5-man
Management Team of the
Utrecht branch. A photograph
of the Utrecht office was
combined with the slogan
Jan Siegelaer from local Credit Risk Control extreme right)
demonstrates once again that be is not only a wizard in his own field.
Having faultlessly completed the Knowledge Fair questionaire, he
was awarded a vacation valued at NLG 2500. Here he demonstrates
the ins and outs of credit risktogether with his co-magician
colleague Louis van Hooft.
Victor van den Heuvel (left) from Sales Fixed Income, checks in at
the F&A Business stand with his questionnaire in an effort to learn
more ahout how they work.
