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Working it out with the ADF A review of the ADF Workout held at Stratford-upon-Avon on May 6th, 1999. Conference
Structure "In the past many delegates to conferences have stated that they disagreed with views expressed by speakers but were unable to join in the debate", said Tony East, leader of the ADF Council as he officially welcomed delegates to the ADF Workout held at Stratford-upon-Avon on May 6th 1999. "The ADF", he continued, "has decided to change all that in 1999. The annual ADF Conference has received a bit of a make over". In fact it had received major surgery and had been transformed into a completely different occasion. It was one that promised to be very participative, involving all delegates in some brainstorm work that would require effort. But it would also be one that was rewarding in enjoyment based on satisfaction that the day was well spent as far as the information gathering opportunity it provided. Several speakers were assembled by the ADF to discuss some key issues affecting the industry. They were all respected as very informed people on their chosen topic, which covered issues relating to technology, the changing market and legislation. As well as being separate subjects in their own right these topics were also of course completely inter-related. For example, environmental legislation is driving vehicle design and technology, which is in turn, is affecting the structure of the aftermarket and the needs of companies operating within the sector. It is also affecting how motorists can use their vehicles and increasingly how they fund mobility and aftersales requirements. Radical yet Simple Format The structure of the day was radical yet basically simple. The formal presentations were held in the morning and the real delegate involvement and debate took place in the afternoon. The layout of the workout room looked more like a sit down dinner occasion than a typical theatre style conference. Delegates were allocated to a specific round ‘brainstorming’ table rather than let sit anywhere. Those arriving in gangs were split up with only one person from a given company per table. This was so that each table had as broader range of relevant experience and expertise as possible. With the speed of acquisitions at the moment this was easier to plan than deliver. In some cases members of a table were selected because they had a particular expertise directly related to a specific topic that would be discussed during the day by that table. Each round table was dedicated to one of the three main topics to be addressed during the day – technology, the changing market and legislation. The general topic area that each team had been allocated to discuss was signposted on each table. The tables were also colour coded to match the colour on delegate badges. The colour-coded badge had a purpose. To enable delegates to recognise other delegates who had been tasked to discuss the same topic and questions – delegates who might be on a different brainstorm table. Spotting fellow brain stormers meant delegates could continue and broaden any discussions during tea and lunch as well as in the evening at the dinner. It also assisted speakers to recognise the delegates focussing on their particular topic. Pre-set specific tasks were set for each table topic discussion group. These were not revealed until after lunch. Ideally each team was asked to come up with clear action points identified in such a way that all delegates could note them down to discuss with their management teams over the following weeks. Relevant speakers were available for advice and joined each of their topic tables in rotation during the discussions in the afternoon. But any table could call on the services of any speaker, because as we’ve already clarified in practice the topics crossed over. And every table team had a chairman whose role was to lead the brainstorming discussions that took place after lunch. At the end of the discussions they were tasked to prepare a clearly written summary of the critical points identified by the teams and these summaries were be given to a Topic Champion. These were Andrew Page – the changing market, Quentin Cornforth - legislation and Dr Richard Stock - technology. During the afternoon tea break they collated the points developed by their topic brainstorming teams and prepared a summary which they presented to all the delegates directly after tea. The meeting then debated some of these points with the speakers before the Workout closed. The ADF email address was also identified as a point to continue and discussion along with the fax number. (7/99) |