Insight
  

A Comprehensive View of
Garry J. Smith
Excerpts from a Selection Criteria

Criterion 1 - Shapes Strategic Thinking

Relevant Capabilities:

Inspire a Sense of Purpose and Direction

A fundamental aspect of my duties as the Director of IT for IDP Education Australia was to provide board members, executives and staff my Personal and professional Information Technology perspectives to accomplish an effective migration to a comprehensive and rational use of technology to achieve quality e-business solutions.  

In 1997 IDP was utilising technology for basic office functionality.  There was, at that time, more than 40 offices in 25 countries, each office independently managed and maintained, particularly in relation to all aspects of information technology. 

One of the first initiatives that I implemented within the organisation was the standardisation of all technology globally.   This required considerable negotiation and liaison at executive level to achieve the acceptance by all executives of a single software and hardware platform.  Implementing this strategy ensured the ability to effectively share information across all aspects of the company and in year one created saving of hundreds of thousands of dollars in telephony cost by utilising one e-mail system on a global basis.

Over the course of the 4 years that I was with IDP I developed a comprehensive understanding of the diversity and complexity of the services and facilities that the company provided on a global basis. 

As this knowledge matured I was instrumental in developing and setting the purpose and direction of the company’s e-business strategies by providing the driving force to achieve, through technology, a considerable number of objectives and goals set by the Senior Executive and the board.  

Through my vision, expertise and ability to impart knowledge and innovation, both in writing and orally, I was able to ensure the rapid adaptation of many existing functions of the company to an e-business environment.   Additionally, by effectively communicating the broader potentials of technology to executives and staff throughout the world, many e-business innovations were accepted and implemented under my directorship.

Strategic Focus

An integral part of my career over the last 20 years has highlighted the absolute need for the dynamic comprehension and understanding of the broader strategic issues related to the organisations I serve. 

I am acutely aware of the potential implications that the ever-changing environment can have on corporate goals and objectives.  By maintaining a broad focus, both internally and externally, any issues that may affect current or planned strategies can be rapidly addressed and resolved.

My background in managing information technology environments has instilled in me the need to constantly monitor and plan for future trends and to forecast which of those trends can be effectively utilised to the benefit of the organisation I am serving.

Ability to Recognise Opportunities, Harness Information

To seek and acquire knowledge with an open mind in relation to new information and accept various perspectives are elementary to the methodologies that are instilled in my business and Personal ethics.  

To ensure that best practices are always utilised in all facets of the services I provide it is essential to maintain a comprehensive understanding of the best practices being utilised in public and private sectors throughout the world.  

Appropriate market research, awareness of cross-cultural diversity and detailed environmental studies are critical to the ability to effectively harness information and opportunities.  By obtaining a balance of this information against commitments, needs and objectives we can achieve successful management of information to the advantage of our organisation.

By the nature of my background and working experience it has proven beneficial for me to constantly maintain a high level of commitment in staying abreast of issues within my environment, hardware and software technical developments and the impact of globalisation. I have also developed a comprehensive understanding of the impact of change on staff and environments and have frequently dealt with the vagaries and issues successfully.

Shows Judgement, Intelligence and Common Sense.

My ability to grasp complex issues and to rapidly distil them into manageable modules is very strong.  I am able to identify details, which may not be readily noticeable to others, and have historically been outstanding in my capacity to effectively deal with the issues. 

 My broad information technology and executive level experience empowers me with a comprehensive capability to analyse and critically evaluate information and problems.  Consideration of all aspects objectively and dispassionately is essential before making a final judgement however, I am aware of the need to be prompt and decisive to ensure effective management and a quality of staff moral.

 With many years of complex analysis and problem solving across a broad spectrum of issues as a working foundation, I have engendered considerable trust and faith in my rational, innovativeness, quality and flexibility in relation to this criteria.

Criterion 2 - Achieves Results

Relevant Capabilities:

Organisational Capability

I pride myself on my ability to achieve results through my successful management of resources.

Human and technical resource management have been a fundamental skill requirement for me throughout my career.  Without the appropriate resources being assigned quality results can rarely be achieved. 

However, I am fully aware that organisational structures, financial limitations, resource availability and other constraints must always be considered. To this end I apply flexibility in assignments of appropriately skilled people to suitable tasks to ensure results are achievable.

The requirement to forecast and plan effectively to accomplish results has been essential to almost every aspect of my career.   The early identification of stakeholder requirements and ability to forecast and cost resources in a dynamic environment has been a normal practice for me in servicing the needs of organisations that have employed me. 

Professional Expertise

The utilisation of specialist, consultants and technical expertise is a function that has been a normal requirement for many projects that I have undertaken.

My experience has highlighted that when there is a need for expertise beyond my, or my staff’s capabilities then advice or services of other professionals must be sort and utilised to ensure projects, objectives and strategies maintain their flow.

Identifying these requirements within technical environments, on a global basis has been an integral part of the services I have provided over many years.

What is important is to identify the appropriate skills needed and know when to utilise the specialist most cost effectively.  With my comprehensive understanding and broad interactions within the industry of information technology I have been able to excel in this area.

Implements Change

Change management is an underlying requirement of all projects that I have been involved in.  To achieve a smooth implementation of change I have developed a systematic and explicitly informed methodology to eliminate as much uncertainty as possible for those personnel that are to be affected.

By clearly defining the objectives, timeframes, impacts on staff or resources and ensuring that communication channels for all stakeholder are in place I have been very successful in change control for projects, with various timeframes, ranging from small interoffice system upgrades to changes affecting many offices throughout the world containing hundreds of staff.

For the more complex project I utilise existing software technology to effectively assist in the planning, coordination and implementation phases.   This assist me in the division of the project into manageable modules and enables change impact to be less intrusive in many cases.

Ability to Clarify Ambiguities

The nature of my career within the Information Technology industry has instilled in me a comprehensive understanding of a need to be able to clearly define subjects and items of issue in both written and verbal communications.  

My depth of experience in this industry has ensured that I comprehend the audience and deliver according to the needs of that audience.   I have developed a very strong capability of eliminating ambiguities and have excelled in the clarity of the information and services that I provide.

Closure and Delivery

Through effective management of the resources available to me I have endeavoured to engender an ethos within myself, and my staff, of successful completion of all tasks and objectives set for us.

Utilising established accountability measures and achieving the goals and deadlines repeatedly instils a pride in successes and thereby ensures enthusiasm for current and future projects.

Effective review processes and constant management of all aspects of any project are fundamental facets of all projects that I have undertaken.  With comprehensive management and the review processes it is possible to maintain focus and commitment to a project.

Criterion 3 - Exemplifies Personal Drive and Integrity

Relevant Capabilities:

Professionalism and Probity

I have always strived to maintain the upmost in my Personal drive and integrity and have encouraged all those associated with me to endeavour to do the same.

 Historically I have achieved recognition and commendations for my professionalism, loyalty and allegiance to the organisation I serve and in many cases have forfeited Personal commitments and views to ensure the delivery of expectation and requirements of the duties I am employed to complete.

My ability to maintain a united leadership perspective and divorce my Personal motivations and ambitions from that perspective has also been commended on many occasions.

Throughout my career I have actively practiced and advocated the essentials of strong ethical and professional behaviour in all avenues of the working and Personal environment.

My commitment to this criterion is without question and my proven history of compliance to all aspects of professionalism in duties and Personal life attest to this.

Risk-taking and Personal Courage

Within the industry of Information technology it is a natural aspect of daily functions to engage in various levels of risk assessment and management.   Through many years of experience I have developed a quality and breadth of skills to enable me to negotiate, liaise, commit and implement tough corporate decisions.

With the maturity, professionalism and strengths of character I possess I have occasionally challenged ideas of others when I believed that they might not be within the objectives of the organisation.   I have also experienced challenges on my ideas and commitments.   Through quality negotiation and liaison these challenges are always resolved to the satisfaction of all stakeholder.

I have no hesitation in accepting responsibility for all decisions that I make.  By maintaining a professional, impartial but informed approach to decision making I accept that these decision are the best of my capabilities at the time.   However, I also accept that if the decisions I have made are in retrospect faulty then I must be prepared to re-evaluate and reassess the situation without prejudice.    I have learned that swiftly accepting a mistake has been made and focusing on a resolution is the most appropriate business practice to moving forward. 

My commitment to staff and organisation imbue me with a responsibility to defend and respond favourable to criticism.   Servicing needs within the IT industry has endowed me with a great deal of experience in arbitration and resolution of all forms of criticism in relation to personnel and resources.

I believe that I understand and recognise my own limitations and have no uncertainty in seeking help, clarification or input to ensure that I deliver the most appropriate advice, guidance or decisions to meet the needs and expectations.

Action Orientation

I have developed a strong history in my motivation and commitment to action on behalf of the organisation.  I have achieved success in this area by Personally monitoring, investing energy and initiatives to proactively shape events and achieve results.

In many cases I have encountered barriers and perceptions of objectives that appear to be unachievable but through diverse lateral analysis, innovation and alternative processes I have been able to provide guidance or solutions to surmount the majority of these and continue the forward motion of the project.

By demonstrating Personal commitment to objectives I consistently create a team focus and allegiance to the same objectives and thereby achieve the task with the minimum of fuss.

Resilience

In all aspects of my career the ability to remain focused in all circumstance has been imperative to the successes that I have achieved.   Dealing with complex organisation with global characteristic has dictated a high level of effort, enthusiasm and optimism despite various setbacks and constraints.

 I have frequently demonstrated my resilience and patience with projects of extensive periods of time.   The success of these projects has been achieved through consistency of behaviour and maintaining control even during crisis periods and events.

I Personally enjoy the challenge of resolving issues and apply tenacity to the tasks with professionalism and effectiveness.

Self Awareness

I am always conscious of the environments that I am working and negotiating  within and I am very much aware of the impact and importance of my Personal status, presentation and presence.  

Throughout my career I have prided myself on a commitment to ensuring that I effectively represent myself and my organisation with the utmost professionalism and quality of presentation.

You will notice throughout my resume my Personal pride in my achievements on behalf of the organisations that I have represented and my desire to demonstrate these achievments effectively and with some innovation.    This professional commitment is also represented within my Personal web site:  http://www.gjsmith.com

Commitment to Personal Development

The need for continuing Personal development is essential to enable me to consistently deliver the best of my abilities to all aspects of my performance.  

I place a great deal of emphasis on these needs and seek every opportunity to expand on my knowledge for Personal benefit and the potential improvements of the services I provide at a professional level to the organisations and clients that I serve.

I have always maintained an open and frank interface between myself, my peers, subordinates, management and customers and if I am lacking in any attributes necessary to effectively meet my commitments or expectation I will address and rectify, wherever possible, those characteristics immediately.

Criterion 4 - Cultivates Productive Working Relationships

Relevant Capabilities:

Nurtures Internal and External Relationships

The building and maintenance of relationships throughout the industry, with peers, stakeholders, executives, Ministerial appointments and key people both internally and externally is a crucial requirement.  Therefore, I endeavour at all time to maintain and expand my network through proactively participate for the mutual benefit of all.

Because of my commitments to a responsive and efficient client service focus in every aspect of my career I have achieved considerable respect and professional standing from those that I service and those that provide services to me and my organisation.

Facilitates Co-operation and Partnerships

The development and maintenance of a team spirit within the work environment is important to me.   I have always applied considerable effort and focus on the need to commit and work together as a team to achieve mutual goals and objectives.  

One of my strongest attributes is my willingness to consult, listen and guide people and through this quality I have maintained a strong role model for the mentoring of staff. 

I strive at all times to engender an environment of cooperation and actively encourage exchange of views across teams and groups.  

Through these attributes I have been fortunate to have consistently achieve a staunch loyalty from all those that have worked for me.

Values Differences and Diversity

Throughout my career as a serviceman, public servant and management within private industry I have recognised the need to support and respect the individuality of others.  I have frequently been commended on the values and strengths I espouse in this criterion.

By understanding the complexities of Personalities, motivations and diversity of people I have been able balance their experience and skills to productively maximise their contribution to the organisation. 

Guide, Mentor and Develop People

An important aspect of good management methodologies is that all staff be given the appropriate guidance, skills and training needed to meet the tasks and objectives expected of them.   I am a strong advocate of this principle and ensure that I provide a quality of support and encouragement for all facets within the environment under my responsibility.  

Through my Personal efforts to continually inspire ongoing learning and actively encourage a need for staff to apply a constant career development strategy I have been successful in the motivation and expansion of capabilities of all staff that have been under my care.

My human resource management skills can be assessed as outstanding.  Through comprehensive training and 30 years of experience in military, public service and private sector environments I have achieved a high standard in quality resource management and I have consistently excelled in all aspects

Criterion 5 - Communicates with Influence

Relevant Capabilities:

Communicates Clearly

For many years I have been required to communicate effectively both in writing and verbally.   Particularly within the industry I have serviced for more than 20 years I have been required to develop and deliver in various medias and arenas.

During this period I have created hundreds of papers, delivered presentations at seminars, developed and carried out training syllabuses and technical papers across a broad spectrum of audiences from Government Ministers, board members, executives through to staff induction sessions.

In all of the areas above I have achieved great success and praise in relation to my professionalism in presentation and clarity of subject matter.

Listens, Understands and Adapts to Different Audiences

Without a comprehensive understanding of the importance of listening and adapting to audiences I could not achieved the successes that I have in this criterion.

I have always endeavoured to rapidly comprehend the needs, tenure and nature of the audience that I am presenting to and then focusing my documents or presentation at that level.  Even though I excel in this criterion I continue to mature this skill as I meet various environments and Personalities.

My strengths in this area are outstanding and can be validated through many avenues.

Negotiates Persuasively

Persuasive negotiation skills have been my forte throughout most of my career.  I have maintained a high level of credibility in this area by researching and obtaining comprehensive subject knowledge and understanding the Personalities or organisational ethos involved before entering into the negotiations.

The perspectives I apply are focused to ensure that objectives are met through common ideas and commitments. In many cases the negotiations entails skilfully applied compromise to ensure outcomes can be achieved.

I have encountered several instances where negotiation to a successful conclusion has not been available despite efforts by all stakeholders to achieve resolution.  In these cases, if I believe that alternative propositions, with further analysis, will assist in a compromised resolution then I will expend the required effort to endeavour to reach a meaningful conclusion.

My maturity and experience in the negotiation environment has instilled a capability to identify when I have not succeeded in conveying my argument successfully and the expertise to know when to withdraw gracefully.