SINGAPORE
NETWORK MOVES
Simple scheme
Key objectives
Useful tooi
When RI's Regional Manager in
Asia, Christian Mol, devised the
Professional's Exchange Program (PEP)
back in 2000, he expected it to he a one-
off. Two years on, PEP is facilitating the
movement of Rabobank people through-
out the world on a regular basis.
In order to get the offices in Asia to
communicate as 'Rabobank' instead of
the independent islands they had be-
come, Mol and the Regional Product
Managers came tip with PEP. He begins:
'The idea was to set up a fun scheme
whereby people, initially front the Asia
region, would spend a short period
working in another office. We wanted
them to gain insight into how things are
done elsewhere as well as offer tlteir
own knowledge and experience.'
The rules were straightforward: eaclt
participant's own office continues to
pay them as usual. Travel and lodging
expenses are financed by the receiving
office and people must go where they
are sent. Each office must also receive
the santé number of people they send.
The whole thing is driven by local man
agement, avoiding as many lengthy
corporate processes as possible. 'Line
Managers began by asking who would
want to take part,' continues Mol, 'Each
interested person submitted a short
piece about what job they were current-
ly doing, when they wanted to go and
what they were looking to get out of the
experience. After the support of local
offices was gained, all who applied
were guaranteed an exchange.'
During Regional Managers' Meetings,
PEP applications were pinned to the
walls with the instruction that dinner
would not be served until each person
had been found a new temporary
'home'. Erom the word go, the scheme
was a tremendous success. Mol says,
'We achieved the initial objectives of
getting people acquainted with what
others in the Asia region were working
on and establishing Asia as a region.
We wanted to familiarize everyone
with Rabobank procedures, projects
and products as well as create informal
networks. Staff also see it as an oppor-
tunity for training and development and
welcome the chance for an overseas
experience.'
Since the scheme started three years ago,
PEP has evolved into an everyday tooi
to get Rabobank expertise to where it's
needed, as and when it's needed. 'Now,
when managers want to "exchange"
their people, all they do is call their
counterpart in another office to set the
ball rolling.' he says. 'The scheme now
bypasses the "formal" selection process
making the whole thing as easy as a
phone call. And, instead of just focusing
on offices in the Asia region, movement
is now occurring all over the world.'
Rabobanker Setb Morgan took part in
the PEP - read abont bis experiertces on
page 22.
The Word I 23
