Sonar6 - Performance Management Blog

With four New Zealand Post business units – Datamail, Express Couriers, Kiwibank and Converga – already using Sonar6 for talent and performance management, Sonar6 is now cementing a long term business relationship across the New Zealand Post Group.

Iconic New Zealand business New Zealand Post has recently signed a Letter of Understanding with Sonar6 to further develop their strategic partnership.

The New Zealand Post Group comprises a family of business with diverse capabilities in the banking, communication, data-management, logistics and distribution sectors.  The group has more than 10,000 employees – a figure which climbs to 17,500 when taking into account contractors and franchisees – operating at 282 sites across the country.   New Zealand Post Group Manager, Capability, Jacqui Cleland says the need to effectively manage talent across the group is a priority.  “And, because our organisation operates a federated model, we wanted to implement Sonar6 in a way that is flexible and relevant to the existing needs of each of our businesses.”

“While there is no compulsion for individual business units to use Sonar6, all of our businesses have been exposed to it.  And, those already using Sonar6 are spreading the word.  They’re keen to share their experiences and demonstrate how helpful it has been in their work. They’re great advocates!  As a result, there has been an organic uptake of Sonar6 from Datamail to Kiwibank to Converga to Group corporate teams,” Jacqui says.

At Group level, Sonar6 has also proven very useful.

“When I was first introduced to Sonar6, what sold me was the fact that it’s simple and intuitive to use.  What’s more, it’s highly visual and we can see at a glance where people are sitting and what their performance trajectory looks like.  This is great from a group capability perspective – it has given us a common performance management framework and consistent language that’s enabled the executive team to have more targeted and robust discussions around performance, talent management and succession planning,” Jacqui says.

The recently-signed Letter of Understanding will foster an even closer relationship between Sonar6 and New Zealand Post in the future.

“While Sonar6 will continue to do stand-alone implementations for New Zealand Post Group businesses as required, we now have greater flexibility to ‘join the dots’.  So, while the individual business units can get a helicopter view of their talent, across the group we will eventually get a space-station view!

“It’s a great tool and they’re great people - we’re looking forward to doing more work with the Sonar6 team,” Jacqui says.