Steve Smith, managing partner of Plus Consulting, an IT firm based in Bridgeville, Pa., says he truly believes that his consultants know and believe "we add real value to organizations by focusing on the people, process, and issues surrounding implementation projects rather than just being geeks that install software."
Software is a commodity that adds zero value if it is simply installed, he says. "What makes the implementation of a software product valuable to an organization is the related business process and people issues surrounding the implementation. The ability to stand back and realize a project's success with a sense of pride is what truly gives the consultants at Plus Consulting the highest level of job satisfaction."
And it's what helped land the firm on the Best Small Firms to Work For list for the second straight year. "This award is particularly special to me because our company culture is one that I have worked hard to nurture and protect that is unquestionably unique," Smith says. "In our eyes, this award represents appreciation for the consultants who work so hard to make Plus Consulting a true success story. Going to work with friends as opposed to co-workers is a trait that is undoubtedly true at Plus Consulting."
This all leads to, of course, a healthy culture at Plus. The firm scored a 4.68 out of a possible 5.0 on the Culture section of the survey. One idea that's undoubtedly helped contribute to that score is what Smith describes as the "bucket concept." Employees simply drop a note in the bucket when someone goes above or beyond the call of duty.
Each month, all the notes are read and ten randomly receive $25 gift cards. "It's hard to believe that such a simple, silly task has evolved to be something that everyone looks forward to."
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