Hello and welcome to the 2nd Edition of Ideation.

The previous edition of Ideation marked some important changes in The Paige Group, including the launch of our new webpage www.thepaigegroup.com.au and www.funfoodfocus.com.au 

We received some great feedback on both Ideation and the website, including:

Thankyou to all those who responded. It is very important in any communication process to receive feedback, this information provides ideas and information on how to approach and improve the products.

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Fun.Food.Focus in action!

The word is getting around about Fun.Food.Focus and the variety of experiences that we offer,  a couple of our new products will be featured later in this edition. 

In July we added a 'touch of Greece' to a Santos Team Leaders' Meeting.  The brief was that our clients wanted to hold an important meeting in a pleasant location that was not too far from the city, preferably with wine tasting, and also engage in a 'hands on' Greek Style cooking session followed by a feast of varied Greek food.

The 'learning' component for this client was for Helen to 'sit in' while the various team members presented their reports. As an independent 'third party' she observed the content and process of the reports, and then provided an overview report to the Team Leader. The observations and recommendations Helen made provided a future path for this team, and some suggestions for specific skills building and increased outcomes for the future.  The outcomes of this process enabled the Team Leader to verify his perceptions and quickly take future actions, based on the information provided by an experienced Fun.Food.Focus facilitator.

Then - it was onto the 'Fun' bit! The Santos team began chopping, frying, stirring, marinating and poaching their way through a fantastic Greek menu.  Included was: herb pita crisps, a variety of dips, a main course buffet selection including spinach and feta pie, moussaka, stuffed capsicums, Greek roasted lamb, a variety of salads and a special filo tart with poached oranges, goats cheese and marscapone. The winery provided high quality white and red wine which was enjoyed over dinner.

As the photos of the event testified, (view on our webpage www.funfoodfocus.com.au) there was a lot of Fun and Food and Focus.

Stay tuned for more Fun.Food.Focus client activities which will provide an overview some of the experiences we could manage for you!

Other Fun.Food.Focus learning case studies are available on our website www.funfoodfocus.com.au

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New Fun.Food.Focus products

In responding immediately to client requirements, we have developed two new Fun.Food.Focus corporate offerings:

entree packages

Our entree Fun.Food.Focus packages are perfect if you're looking for something at late notice or if your team is just short on time.

Ideal for the meeting or professional development day scheduled at the last minute, or when you only have the lunch hour to spare, these basic packages are a great alternative.

We still retain the Fun.Food.Focus. quality, using only the best and freshest ingredients, expert cooking tuition by a professional and experienced chef or gourmet cook, as well as inspired and creative menus and cooking themes.

The entree packages were designed with greater simplicity and effortless organisation in mind to fit in with your time and budget needs.

So, if you've only got time to "sample", choose an entree Fun.Food.Focus. package. Our entree package currently includes - Japanese Sushi Making - but new options are being added all the time! Speak to Helen on 8271 1173 or 0403 374 183 or e-mail ask@funfoodfocus.com.au for further details and suggestions.

Corporate Wellness Programs

Great for Employers...
Many Australian employers are beginning to understand the benefits of offering Corporate Wellness Programs. For every dollar spent on a Corporate Wellness Program, the returns have shown savings in the areas of decreased absenteeism, fewer sick days, lower job turnover, reduced work cover claims, reduced health-care costs, improved physical fitness, and improvements to employee performance and productivity.

Additionally, these organisations notice increased employee morale, improved ability to attract and retain qualified and committed staff as well as more alert and productive employees.

For the Employee...
Employees engaged in Corporate Wellness Programs report a positive impact on all aspects of their work life. This translates into fewer injuries, lower levels of stress, less human error, a sense of worth, higher self-esteem and a better team environment.

Corporate Wellness Programs foster a positive workplace culture and ensure that employee's feel appreciated and valued.

Large companies like Johnson & Johnson have estimated an average saving of U.S. $224.66 per employee per year for the four years examined after a Corporate Wellness program introduction, with the bulk of the savings being in the third and fourth years.

Australian organisations such as the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) in WA report 'a Return on Investment (ROI) of lost time due to injury reduction by 27.5 per cent, and injuries requiring medical treatment by 38 per cent, as well as increased productivity and reduced sick leave'. (http://www.humanresourcesmagazine.com.au).

At Fun.Food.Focus we believe that healthy eating habits and a regular exercise program are essential in the workplace and offer various options for companies who wish to offer Corporate Wellness Programs to their employees.

Onsite workshops include:

• Exercise  and Flexibility Classes
• Healthy 'Hands-on' Cooking Classes – including:
• Middle Eastern
• Japanese Sushi making
• Greek
• Low Fat
• Vegetarian
• Thai
• Organic
• Healthy Talks on nutrition and related
• Health Checks
• Stress Management and Work/Life Balance Programs
• Occupational Health and Safety checks

We'll be happy to discuss your organisation's wellness needs and provide you with a range of suitable exciting and fun options to suit your workplace.

Contact us via our enquiry form or email or telephone for further details, ideas and a detailed quote.

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Making Life Easier with TimeMaker

Don't Forget... one of the easiest ways to improve your business 'bottom line' is to undertake a special 1 hour 'one-on-one' TimeMaker session - business and organisational appraisal.

During this 'walk around your organisation', Helen will provide you with business and time management advice for you, your organisation and your staff.  

A variety of clients have found this to be a very effective and beneficial way to receive ideas, business tips and to be a 'thought-provoker', as we see you 'in' and operating 'in' your business, and the advice can be immediate!!

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Christmas Functions

Spring has already arrived, which means that Christmas is just around the corner. Decorations are available in the shops so we thought you might be thinking about what you are going to organise for your Christmas Function in 2007.

And, as we like to tailor our 'events and experiences' specifically for you - we would love help you make this Christmas a unique and memorable occasion.

SO ... challenge your staff with a 'hands on cooking' session followed by a delicious Christmas feast that they helped prepare.

We organise everything! The venue, entertainment, photos and much more... including the washing up.

See below for some ideas on the menus we can create for you. But, remember at Fun.Food.Focus we will design a menu especially for your event.

• Contemporary Australian Fusion (think - Paprika and Rosemary Lamb Fillets, or a Tart with Creme Patisserie and glazed fruit)
• A traditional roast Christmas Dinner with turkey and plum pudding
• A gourmet BBQ and Pavlova
• Finger food with a Christmas Twist
• Traditional Japanese Sushi
• An Exotic Thai Banquet
• A Northern Indian Feast or
• Rustic Italian

If you would like Fun.Food.Focus to organise your Christmas Thank you to staff or clients Party this year then contact us now through our webpage Enquiry Form at www.funfoodfocus.com.au or Call us on 0403 374 183....

Be quick to book your preferred date

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Knowledge Report

ADVANCE KNOWLEDGE NETWORKS (AKN) 

Helen was recently invited to run a Knowledge Cafe at KM Australia 2007 in Sydney on the topic of 'How does the 'Human Element' contribute to Knowledge Management?'

(A Knowledge Cafe is a 'learning community' that brings people together to learn from each other in order to make a difference or introduce change in their organisational practices.  They also provide excellent networking, knowledge sharing and learning opportunities.)

On this occasion, the setting was in a cafe environment (food and drinks, and individual tables), at the Bayside Grand Hall at the Sydney Convention Centre, Darling Harbour, and the audience consisted of a wide-cross section of conference attendees from organisations such as Suncorp, Colliers International, Woods and Bagot, Telstra, BHP Billiton, Deloitte, BAE and various educational institutions, consultancies as well as private and public sector entities.

After commencing the proceedings with Speed Networking, it was then over to facilitating the Cafe, with its emphasis on -

1. Listening...not just talking
2. Encouraging group conversations, and
3. Encouraging 'actionable insights'

AKN will be conducting two Knowledge Cafes during September...more about that in our next e-newsletter)

If you would like further information on how Helen can help your organisation solve some of those difficult organisational dilemmas such as change management; developing a positive corporate culture, and related by using a Knowledge Cafe process - contact her on info@thepaigegroup.com.au OR refer to our webpage www.thepaigegroup.com.au

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Book Review

Small is the New Big by Seth Godin, Penguin Continuing on with an overview of the second grouping of three blogs from the books 'Small is the New Big' (by Seth Godin, Penguin), I now look at:

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