Kajima Improves Its Business Plan with Lake Forest Corporate Education Training
Lake Forest Corporate Education has another satisfied customer, Kajima Construction Services, Inc. The third largest contractor in the world, Kajima has become a premier design, development, and construction company by delivering total solutions to the planning, building, and operation of facilities for automotive, warehouse distribution, industrial, manufacturing, office, and telecommunications clients.
To continue its success, Kajima’s Midwest Region wanted to enhance its capabilities as a total solutions provider by further developing key management competencies to grow its business and reinforce its competitive advantages. Kajima’s specific educational goal was to further develop competencies in cross-functional communication, collaboration, and strategic planning.
To address this challenge, Kajima sought out Lake Forest Corporate Education to develop a customized training program that could strengthen leadership, communication, and customer growth.
According to Jim Mathias, regional manager, accounting/administration for Kajima’s Midwest Region, “Not only do we build great buildings, we also build great relationships. Our clients want to work with strong communicators who make projects run smoothly and create ‘win-win’ situations for everyone. Professional development helps make us unique in our industry.”
Lake Forest Corporate Education’s training solution was to customize an interactive curriculum focused on Kajima’s business goals. This curriculum provided skill development training in three key competencies:
- Leadership communication
- Negotiating like a business owner
- Supporting customer growth
Explaining why Kajima selected Lake Forest Corporate Education to collaborate with, Mathias maintains, “No other potential educational partner had the cohesive set of strengths that they have. Three main factors elevated them above other corporate education providers: their expertise in corporate education, the significant business and teaching experience of each faculty member, and their accessible locations.”
Describing the results of Kajima’s training with Lake Forest Corporate Education, Mathias states, “The result was immediate and relevant. Our 2002 business plan has improved as a direct result of our training with Lake Forest Corporate Education. Our communication is more efficient, our collaboration tighter, and our client focus even stronger.
“A noticeable behavioral change has been more efficient communication, such as the use of a ‘common internal language’ from the shared learning experience. This has strengthened our client focus and reinforced our competitive position as a total solutions provider. Response to date has been very positive. Even our most experienced leaders found this training to be very helpful.
“Even though this originated as a Midwest program, our corporate managers are very interested in the benefits it can provide to our other regions. We anticipate the future advantage of our relationship with Lake Forest Corporate Education to be improved customer satisfaction, repeat business, and increased profitability for our Midwest Region.”
