Page 28 - Suncor 360 - September 2014 - English

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YOU DO WHAT
SEPTEMBER 2014
360

He’s a people engineer

The team helps diagnose organizational

issues as well as develop and implement
solutions that help people adopt changes

more easily.

Anton, who became a certiied executive

coach this summer, is heavily involved in
work related to our operational discipline

behaviours, which will further help to

move our company culture toward
operational excellence.

Anton Baser is a bit of an anomaly in
“Cultural changes are not easy. Suncor’s
the Human Resources department.
pursuit of operational excellence means

we’re clarifying our expectations of people
A mechanical engineer by trade, Anton is and their roles as well as how they get their
currently manager of organizational
jobs done,” he says.
effectiveness (OE) practice development,
and has a hand in driving improved
While not a simple task, documenting and
performance across the business.
deining work processes is resulting in

Upon closer examination, an engineer- greater consistency across business units –
a key piece of the Operational Excellence
turned-HR guy is not such a stretch. Anton’s
background in project management is useful Management System (OEMS). Anton and
his team are developing and implementing
as he involves the right people and teams to
the standards for OEMS Element 6 around
implement and adopt new processes, organizational structure, role
structures and behaviours.
accountabilities and authorities.

“The OE team helps people work through
where they are going and what is getting In true engineering style, Anton says he
looks at each challenge as a system and
in their way today,” explains Anton. “We
also help people understand the magnitude enjoys iguring out how to integrate all of
the pieces and people into a practical
of a change. Helping people become more
effective in achieving their business solution. “I like to make complex things
simple, and drive value for the business
outcomes is a process.”
through those solutions. For me, the
organizational effectiveness world is great
Anton’s journey to Human Resources
happened by way of Firebag, where he was mix of art and science.”

a project manager. “I was always interested
The low-down on OE
in the people side of projects. I moved into

OE and change work because I noticed
Ever wonder what makes an organization how little we paid attention to people side
tick? That, in part, is what OE is all about.
It’s an interdisciplinary ield that draws
of projects, even though people are critical
on business management, organizational to the success of any new initiative.”
behaviour, psychology, economics,
education and other areas of expertise to
drive better business results. The Suncor Six years later, this ‘people engineer’ is now

OE team is involved with transformational leading a team that is undergoing some
change, organizational design, team changes of its own. The Organizational
effectiveness, cultural change – and serves
as a centre of expertise for leaders and Effectiveness group recently merged with
other HR professionals.
the Change Management Ofice to better

support company-wide change initiatives.
Anton Baser