What did iGROW do for ILA Group?

A design-and-build contractor that had never measured its people ran a full diagnostic before expanding overseas, and came out above industry on satisfaction with absence down 16.7%.

What was the result of the ILA Group project?

83.3% job satisfaction against 75% industry. Reported by ILA Group in a signed client letter, signed by Ong Zesen, Director.

What type of consulting engagement was this?

Human Capital Development, delivered over 7 months for a company in Interior design and build.

Human Capital Development

Measuring a workforce for the first time in seven years

Reported result 83.3% job satisfaction against 75% industry

Sector: Interior design and build
Duration: 7 months
Verified by: Ong Zesen, Director

ILA Group was six years old, ISO 9001 certified, bizSAFE Star rated, and about to take on larger government projects and expand overseas. It had never once asked its own people how they were doing.

The situation

"As a 7-year-old company, we have never conducted any formal surveys or assessments to determine employee engagement, stress, satisfaction and commitment."

The timing was the point. Growth was coming from larger government projects, new products and overseas expansion, and the leadership expected that to put its people under pressure. They wanted a baseline before the pressure arrived, not a diagnosis afterwards.

What we did

A four-phase Human Capital Development project across six months.

Profiling of all key employees to evaluate role fit and leadership capability, using validated personality and emotional intelligence measures rather than a survey written in-house. Human capital policies were revised, including health and safety clauses brought into line with industry standards. Customised emotional intelligence workshops, group discussions and eLearning followed.

What was achieved

The company's signed account, covering the six months:

"83.3% of employees in ILA are satisfied with their job compared to 75% in the industry."

"80% of employees in ILA experience mid to high levels of Dedication and Vigor at work."

"There is a reduction of total number of employees who were absent (16.7%) or took time off (50%) from work in the last 12 months."

"83.3% of employees does not have intention to quit their job or the industry in the next 12 months."

"Overall health of employees have increased (73.4%)."

Why this worked

Benchmarked, not self-referential. "83.3% satisfied" on its own is a number without meaning. Against an industry figure of 75%, it becomes an argument. Measurement is only useful when there is something to measure against.

Absence is the honest metric. Satisfaction scores are what people say. Absenteeism and time-off are what they do. Both moved, which is the combination that makes a result credible.

The work was done before the strain, not after. A company heading into government contracts and overseas expansion will find out about its people either way. Doing it deliberately, with instruments, means you learn it in a report rather than in a resignation.