BMW 2004 Annual Report Download - page 141

11
Achievement and passion.
A company’s success can usually be traced to
a number of reasons. However, its employees
are always decisive. Companies that attract good
employees also tend to produce better products
and achieve more favourable results. In other
words, “Good business is good people”.
But how do you attract good employees? How
do you motivate them and how do you retain
them? The answer is at least as complex as
human nature itself. Basically, you have to create
a corporate culture that rewards achievement
and passion, that offers talented people the
scope they need and thus attracts the very best.
An attractive working environment is like a mosaic
made of many pieces of different sizes. At the
BMW Group, the mosaic’s components include
clearly defined agreements on targets for em-
ployees, a cooperative style of management, a
wide range of further education and training pro-
grammes, as well as flexible work time models
designed to strike a balance between professional
and private life. And although it is difficult to
quantify satisfaction and motivation, their results
can be measured exactly: a low fluctuation rate
among employees and an unusually high innova-
tion rate are just two examples. Another is the
nomination as “most attractive employer” among
young professionals and students, for whom the
BMW Group has held a leading position for years.
And, ultimately, above-average profitability due
to the dedication and passion of the BMW Group’s
employees.