Men have the ideas but women make them work

Suggestion schemes conference host says men brag, women do.

DUBAI // If you want to improve your company, ask your staff how - but do not expect many suggestions from the women.

"Women do not come forward with ideas," said Abdul Qader Obaid Ali, of Dubai Quality Group, which will host Ideas. Arabia, a three-day conference about suggestion schemes.

"What women do is implement ideas. There is a study that proves that we men, when we do something, we love to brag about whatever we do, even if we take the garbage outside. But women tend to do things rather than suggest them.

"We're trying to encourage some companies to have a special category for women in their suggestions schemes, to try to make sure we appreciate them for their ideas."

Many firms have found that nothing helps encourage ideas such as a cash incentive, with some having offered prizes of up to Dh500,000 for suggestions that boost the bottom line. Dubai Customs offered such a reward, paying Dh500,000 to an employee who suggested a new kind of customs declaration.

"Before there were three types of business - export, import or transit - but there was nothing called import for re-export," said Feryal Tawakul, executive director of Dubai Customs' community affairs and government partnership division.

"That means traders have a chance to bring in their goods for six months, they can sell them in the local market, or if not they can export them.

"This increased business in Dubai and the revenues were amazing."

A second Dh500,000 payment was made to a ports employee who suggested a better site for a new electricity substation at Jebel Ali, saving the company Dh50m.

"These are some of the highest rewards I've seen worldwide," said Mr Ali.

Suggestions do not have to be money-spinners, though. When Dubai Customs introduced a childcare centre following a staff suggestion, it increased productivity by 10 per cent and reduced absenteeism by 20 per cent, said Ms Tawakul.

The public can benefit, too. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has revamped the customer service area at its head office, near Wafi mall, after a staff suggestion.

"There were customer services that were available at branches but not at our head office," said Fatma Deemas, a senior manager of employee relations. "Before we had been directing customers wanting these services to the branches, and now they are available at head office."

The sixth Ideas. Arabia conference starts on Sunday at the Westin hotel.