Marks and Spencer 2009 Annual Report Download - page 58

54 Marks and Spencer Group plc Annual report and financial statements 2009 Directors’ report
Corporate governance
continued
Governance is not just about the Board – it’s about how governance
is understood and acted on throughout the business. The Board
sets out the Company’s values and standards to make sure our
people understand and meet our obligations to shareholders and
wider stakeholders.
Brand values
Our employees are focused on meeting our customers’ expectations
every time they shop with us and we aim to live up to these values
in everything we do.
Quality
– Deliver high standards consistently
– Act with pace, be decisive and enthusiastic
– Take responsibility for your own performance and take action
to improve your development
Value
– Strive to deliver value for money
– Look for opportunities to increase profit
– Challenge yourself and others to be more efficient
Service
– Deliver great service to customers and colleagues
– Have a ‘can-do’ attitude
– Do what you say you’ll do
Innovation
– Recognise trends and take action
– Look for ways to do things better
– Be open to new ideas
– Be willing to step outside your comfort zone
Trust
– Act with integrity
– Think and act as one team
– Listen and consider the input of others
– Challenge constructively and deal with conflict effectively
– Celebrate achievement
Leadership development and succession planning
During the year there was enhanced focus on succession within
the Company through presentations at the Nomination and
Governance Committee.
We are continuing to identify and develop internal talent, as well
as bringing in new people, to make sure we have the right skills in
key areas of business focus.
During the year we launched our Lead to Succeed development
programme built around our brand values. This is designed to help
our senior leaders to develop themselves, lead their teams and our
organisation to drive business success. It is a critical component of
our future people strategy.
Business Involvement Group
Our Business Involvement Groups (‘BIG’) are the Company’s
network of elected employee representatives who represent their
colleagues in every store and every business area in the UK.
Through the BIG network the Company informs, involves and
consults with employees who have the chance to voice their
opinions and ideas, get answers and have their views represented
when the business considers changes that affect them.
Over 3,500 BIG members have continued to play a key role
in a wide variety of business changes, in what has been a very
challenging year.
Code of Ethics
‘Doing the right thing’ helps us maintain trust in the M&S brand.
We all have a responsibility to protect the Company’s reputation in
everything we do.
Our Code outlines the behaviours that M&S expects when
we deal with our customers, colleagues, shareholders, suppliers,
communities and the environment.
It also provides a link to our key policies and sets out how
employees can raise their concerns.
“The Top 100 Briefings and Director breakfasts introduced
this year have brought managers and employees together
more regularly to make sure information flows both ways,
from the boardroom to the shop floor.” Nayna McIntosh,
Director of Store Marketing and Design
“Lead to Succeed is bringing to life our M&S brand, helping
our senior people to understand the unique nature of
leadership in M&S.” Tanith Dodge, Director of Human Resources
“The business has had to take some difficult decisions this
year, including the restructuring of head office. My role in the
consultation process was to ensure the views of colleagues
affected by the proposed changes were fairly represented.”
Ann Govier, member of Corporate BIG
From the boardroom to the shop floor