Strategies:
Operations will be decentralised
• under one and the same brand,
• with common processes and systems,
• with shared values and a common corporate culture in order to concert efforts and fully exploit the potential of all the experience that is represented within the ÅF Group.
One ÅF
One ÅF is a huge, shared bank of knowledge available to all ÅF co-workers. One ÅF extends to both technical and cultural aspects of ÅF operations, enabling us to solve clients’ problems more quickly by referring whenever possible to similar assignments previously carried out within the Group. One ÅF is a common workplace where co-workers are encouraged to change jobs within the Group. One ÅF is a joint sale organisation where the entire portfolio of ÅF’s services is made available to every client. And, last but not least, One ÅF is the firm base for the corporate culture and shared values of ÅF.
Acquisitions strategy
ÅF’s acquisitions policy is based on the above, and every effort will be made to develop the business when the right opportunities arise. However, expansion will not take place at the expense of profitability.
Business support and shared processes
Business support system
ÅF is constantly developing its consulting business and its capacity to carry out assignments in the best possible way. The ambition is to assure successful, sustainable, long-term development for both clients and ÅF.
One example of this is the introduction of the ÅF Business Support System, a central operational control system that makes ÅF’s business operations considerably more cost-effective at the same time as it assures the quality and consistency of the company’s approach. Work started in 2007 to change the IT platform for the business system. The new platform will be accessible for all ÅF co-workers regardless of the country in which they are working and whether they are connected to the ÅF intranet or the Internet.
The system enables ÅF management to control and support operations and meet the criteria for certification for environmental and quality management in accordance with ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 9001: 2000.
Pooling knowledge, methods and skills in this way and making information more easily accessible improves opportunities for securing and succeeding in more advanced assignments and conventional projects alike. It helps ÅF to make full use of its size and breadth of experience. The system also supports a methodical approach by gathering tools and assignments in one place in a common structure supported by document management functions. The system’s search functions enable the best ideas to be "recycled" and provide easy access to ÅF’s structural capital and references.
The system also serves as a guide for ÅF employees, regardless of their assignment, position or geographical location. Here best practice routines at ÅF are described from start to finish, complemented by tools such as checklists, templates, guidelines and forms. The system, which also contains descriptions of Group policy on a variety of issues, is adapted to assignments and available via Internet.
Personnel administration system
The administrative heart of the Group’s activities is a personnel administration system run by the Group HR department together with local representatives responsible for updating data for each division. The system administers everything from monitoring IT access codes to salary details, indexing details of skills in CVs and managing the rental of the staff trust’s holiday homes for employees.
IT support
Since February 2007 ÅF’s central IT operations have been outsourced to an external supplier. This not only reduces ÅF’s costs, but also provides access to all the experience and expertise of a big-name IT partner with stringent criteria in matters of IT security.