Business threats for 2010

Productivity drop in the workplace - one of the negative impacts soccer fever will have

While the FIFA World Cup promises many benefits to South Africa as the host nation, it also poses many threats and we could be caught unprepared for disruptions to our businesses and daily lives. Speaking at the 2010 Strategic Readiness Forum in the uThungulu District Council chambers last week, consultant Andrew Dhebideen warned that it won’t be ‘business as usual’, especially for the period 11 June to 11 July when the 64 matches that comprise the World Cup are being played. ‘Because South Africa has never before hosted an event of this magnitude, we are unaware of the risks, which should be considered while there is still time to implement positive strategies of dealing with potential negatives,’ he said. Dhebideen outlined a number of possible ways of working around them, including:

Congestion (before, during and after matches)
Heavy traffic flows are expected around venues, training facilities, fan parks and transport termini. Traffic will move slowly, so give yourself plenty of time to get where you are going. If possible, plan alternate routes or do your trips on days when matches are not being played. Road closure plans will dictate traffic movements. Travelling must be minimised and logistical planning is essential. Air, sea and surface movements will be affected. High road traffic volumes are expected around airports and you can expect delays of three hours or more. All ‘designated areas’ will have restricted access, and vehicles without VAPP’s (Vehicle Access Parking Permits) will be excluded from these zones. Deliveries will be delayed or, in some cases, will not be possible. Plan accordingly; do deliveries in the evenings or early morning. Check inventories and extend lead times to allow for disruptions.

Leave and absenteeism
Expect multiple requests for leave on match days. Staff may already have purchased tickets. Bring it out in the open: how many have purchased tickets, and for which games? Plan ahead: leave schedules are required; leave dates must suite the company. HR departments must develop and communicate leave policy for the event. Expect unauthorised absenteeism and staff leaving work early to travel to games, which are generally played in the late afternoon. Reduced staff numbers will mean that external resources may be needed. Remember: use of part-time staff needs to be checked with unions first. Operating hours may need to change to suit match times. Think about flexi-time hours, or working time in, in lieu of time off. Isolated, short periods of absence do not justify dismissal. False ‘sick notes’, however, could be treated as gross misconduct. Remember that schools and crèches will be closed and parents might be forced to stay at home.

Meeting schedules
Since many flights will be fully booked and given the congestion in the match cities, plan your meetings carefully or do some tele-conferencing. Hired vehicles will also be scarce, so plan ahead.

Downtime
Since business will be slower than usual, use the time to do maintenance and catch up on filing and other house-keeping tasks. It might be opportune for some staff to take their annual leave over this period.

Industrial action
Workers may use the event as an opportunity to address their grievances, which means companies will need to have specific plans in place to address such issues.

Business robberies
Police will be around event venues to protect spectators, players and international guests, leaving criminals to exploit this opportunity.

Slower imports
Tighter security controls and long queues at points of entry (border posts, airports and harbours) will have a major lag effect.

Loss of productivity
The World Cup will promote a festival-type, party atmosphere. Staff alcohol and drug abuse, lack of sleep and gambling (on games) will be rife. Alcohol abuse and lack of sleep will affect both productivity and safety at the workplace.

IT system overload
IT managers must ensure that Internet gateways are fully available for business use, rather than overloaded by online World Cup fever. Block access to global sports sites. Block the protocols used for streaming. Block internal streams, streaming news and standard parts of web sites, interfering with work-related web information. Block/scan emails with larger attachments. Imagine if everyone who attended a game emailed 10 high resolution pictures the next morning.

Shortages
Ensure that office supplies are adequate - you may not be able to have them delivered during the World Cup peak days. Even canteen items, such as vegetables and meat, could be in short supply. The same applies to petrol, where delivery to garages could be a problem. Banks getting cash to ATMs might also be a challenge, so draw enough in advance.

Pandemics
With people arriving from all parts of the globe, flu and other viruses could spread quickly. The event is over winter with people up late and crowded together.

Threats to key assets
Identify key operational sites, suppliers and areas of business engagements and continually monitor threats.