Customer
Spotlight
Customer
Spotlight
 KETCHUM ADVERTISING Media Department |
| Ketchum Advertising,
San Francisco, is one of the largest advertising agencies
in the city. Serving a critical role in Ketchum's client
services, the Media Department provides strategic media
thinking, innovative recommendations and tough media
negotiation for a myriad of clients. Each client comes
with a particular workstyle and list of priorities that
must be understood and addressed on a daily basis.To provide
high quality media thinking and appropriate client
responsiveness, the Media Department coordinates with
other departments within the agency. The agency's work
environment is predominantly one of open work stations. The nature
of the work and this open floor plan result in constant
interruptions and too many meetings. The Media Department
realized that productivity and job satisfaction were
suffering as a result of this hectic environment, and
they came to TMI for assistance in effective time and
communications management. Their goal was to preserve the
openness of their work environment while increasing
control of the work day. In August of 1991, everyone in
the department, from managers to administrative
assistants, participated together in TMI's Managing
Personal Performance program. RESULTS: The entire department adopted a "red time" policy, which respects a person's need to be unavailable to others at certain times, A task force designed formal "red time" signs which replace the individual's nameplate during this period. Beyond "red time," voice and e-mail have decreased the number of interruptions throughout the day. "Most noticeable," says Mary Murphy, Ketchum's Media Director, "is our improved communications with one another and increased respect for one another's time and priorities, regardless of title. We consider the TMI program to be an important piece of training for all of our media employees." Department meetings are now held once a month and agenda items are solicited from everyone in the department. Specific action plans are created at the end of each meeting. Over a year later, the program philosophy and Time Manager system is a critical part of the Ketchum Advertising culture. |
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