WHAT INNOVATION MEANS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES

WHAT INNOVATION MEANS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES 

 

There is nothing more dangerous to a young business than closed minds. Imagine if too many people listened to Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, who claimed in 1943 that "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."

From a turnover of $20 million in 1999, to over $400 million in 2006, at BBS we are growing at a startling rate. But we are aware that these financial results can be misleading as they do not give our stakeholders the full picture. Hand in hand with business growth must be the creation of a culture that can consolidate this strong position and become the backbone for future growth.

We believe that the answer is in innovation - innovation in relationships.

With expertise from asset management to design engineering, construction contracting, and operations and maintenance services, we have our fingers in many pies. But there is one thing that carries across all our business - relationships.

Our innovative thinking, therefore, is based on our underlying understanding of these relationships and how they can be improved. In understanding our client's business and thinking creatively about where it is heading. In anticipating what our clients want, rather than what they need.

Imagine a workplace where you and your client sit side by side in the same office. Together, you develop a tailored financial model to share the risk and reward of the job. Where your success is based on your ability to negotiate for the mutual benefit. This is innovation in action because for many, this level of collaboration is contrary to the competitive business frameworks they are familiar with - it asks them to question their fundamental ways of thinking.

In a world of relentless environmental and technological change, in which the barriers between people and places are breaking down faster than ever before, a business culture must be able to adapt to new theory and answer new questions. For us, it is about forging a culture of creativity and inventiveness. A culture that engages with and predicts new thought and that encourages people to sit somewhere outside the square.

Old prejudices cannot enter the field of play, and detractors must take their turn on the bench. Because we should constantly be asking ourselves, as Michael Ostrowski says "Is it innovation if everyone can see that it is?"

Mark Elliott, managing director, Bilfinger Berger Services

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