Energy,
Of course employees are important -- I'd NEVER suggest otherwise and it grates me when HR and Mgt. folks say "employees are our most important asset" but their actions say something else entirely.
However, I think you proved my point. I'd say you in fact DO NOT have TRUE management committment to the ISO effort and that is why you face the resistance and delays you do from down the line. You said "All excuses are accepted for not completing ISO related tasks in exchange for increased sales and on-time delivery". Last I checked, accepting all excuses for not getting something done was not a sure sign of management committment! The words and deeds of the Top Dog are not jiving. It is clear to the folks who are delaying you that their REAL top priorities are sales and OTD. They must realize if they let sales and OTD slip it is more damaging to them than to let ISO slip. Following basic human nature, they ignore the words and do what actually gets rewarded most. I have no problem with management saying that priorities are sales, OTD, and ISO in that order if that is what they want to do and the company is better for it. That's fine. I just get pissed when the words and deeds do not match and I get caught in the middle and left to explain alone why I "didn't get the (ISO) job done". Been there, didn't like it. I have tons of respect for the few managers I've met in my life who have had the guts and decency to have their words and actions jive.
Of course employees are important -- I'd NEVER suggest otherwise and it grates me when HR and Mgt. folks say "employees are our most important asset" but their actions say something else entirely.
However, I think you proved my point. I'd say you in fact DO NOT have TRUE management committment to the ISO effort and that is why you face the resistance and delays you do from down the line. You said "All excuses are accepted for not completing ISO related tasks in exchange for increased sales and on-time delivery". Last I checked, accepting all excuses for not getting something done was not a sure sign of management committment! The words and deeds of the Top Dog are not jiving. It is clear to the folks who are delaying you that their REAL top priorities are sales and OTD. They must realize if they let sales and OTD slip it is more damaging to them than to let ISO slip. Following basic human nature, they ignore the words and do what actually gets rewarded most. I have no problem with management saying that priorities are sales, OTD, and ISO in that order if that is what they want to do and the company is better for it. That's fine. I just get pissed when the words and deeds do not match and I get caught in the middle and left to explain alone why I "didn't get the (ISO) job done". Been there, didn't like it. I have tons of respect for the few managers I've met in my life who have had the guts and decency to have their words and actions jive.
