NMMU Business School Host Shatterprufe for the Shatterprufe Team Leader Programme (STLP)

Port Elizabeth, 13 May 2014 - NMMU Business School is set to launch a new team leader programme with Shatterprufe, South Africa’s leading automotive glass manufacturer. The programme commenced in May 2014 and will continue until April 2015.

Shatterprufe and NMMU Business School have a close history of working together.  The two organisations have collaborated in the co-development of Leadership Development interventions across three levels being presented at Port Elizabeth and Garankuwa. At the core of the Shatterprufe Team Leader Programme (STLP) are seven 16-hour learning areas, practical work-based assignments, as well as a group-coaching component.

An orientation for the Shatterprufe delegates was held at the new green-certified NMMU Business School facility in April. Divisional Human Resources Manager of Shatterprufe, Kate Turro, was eager to commence with the latest initiative on a team leader level.

Delegates from Shatterprufe's Strundale and Neave Plants.

“The working relationship with NMMU Business School is a good one. Our employees attend standard courses through the business school regularly. However, I think the really hard work and relationship building between Shatterprufe and the Business School has developed through tailored programmes such as this one,” said Turro.

Learning areas will include aspects relating to effective writing skills, applied emotional intelligence, problem solving and decision making, principles of effective teams and communication, managing time continuous improvement, and planning and organising.

“Some of the conceptual work and honing of the programmes geared for our specific needs have taken many months to develop. This requires a good working relationship and an understanding of our various roles. I believe we have the dedication on both sides to achieve our goal which is a development intervention that achieves a real change in the individual and in the workplace,” Turro continued.

Delegates from both the Neave and Struandale Shatterprufe plants in Port Elizabeth will attend the STLP. Delegates will be divided into three groups when attending the theoretical learning areas. 

The STLP was structured so that each of the three groups consisted of representatives from both the plants in order to stimulate discussion between the two Shatterprufe plants.

Facilitator Jill Ayerest during the Effective Writing learning platform.

NMMU Business School’s senior manager of business development and customised learning, Joey Staphorst, commented on the programme and NMMU Business School’s long standing relationship with Shatterprufe.

“What makes this programme unique is that not only will the content will be customized and contextualized for the needs as identified by Shatterprufe, but this programme also builds on and feeds into two other customized learning interventions already coordinated by NMMU at  Shatterprufe.

“The STLP will be supported further through regular group-coaching session facilitated by a NMMU coach.  The focus of the group coaching session will be to assist delegates to operationalize the theory learnt in the class,

“The group-coaching sessions will see a further shuffling of delegates into smaller groups in order to encourage interaction on a more personal level,” said Staphorst. 

Turro commented on the importance of this level of skills development in the industry.

“I think that Shatterprufe has been very clear that its people and their development is key to our future sustainability and uplifting skills at all levels across the organisation is a cornerstone of our business strategy. This is evidenced by the amount of time and resources that Shatterprufe has committed to people development,” concluded Turro.