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Tom Mitchell-Taverner
Tom graduated from Deakin University in 1996 with a
Bachelor of Architecture.
He gained his initial practical design experience with an architectural
firm in Melbourne before passing the AACA board exams to become
a qualified architect in 2001. In deference to the traditional path,
once fully qualified, Tom elected to take on a role as the Development
Manager for an affiliated Facilities Management company while at
the same time assuming responsibility for the management and implementation
of ISO 9001 (Quality Management) and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management)
across the entire group of companies which included Architecture
(x2), Interior Design, Multimedia and Facilities Management. Tom
explains, “I was interested in how business operates outside
architecture. Primarily though, I was frustrated with the
(lack of) marketing acumen demonstrated by the architectural industry
at the time. I wanted to see the bigger picture”.
In 2003 Tom moved to London to further his career in Europe, initially
working in marketing and then accepting the role of Quality Manager
with a large UK-based architectural firm. He was responsible for
Quality Assurance across four office locations covering 150 staff
and represented the firm on some of the world’s largest building
projects – including Heathrow Terminal 5 and Kings Cross Thames
Link station. Tom assumed a leading role in the firm’s
management and was selected to head up a branch in Abu Dhabi (UAE)
where he was responsible for ensuring both the smooth running of
the office and creation of new business opportunities in the Middle
East. Just before leaving London, Tom was working closely with the
newly established Irish arm of the business.
Now working with Taverner Research in Sydney, initially in the role
of Development Manager, Tom has gained valuable experience across
the globe in a number of senior roles over some 10 years.
He is committed to taking Taverner Research to the next level and
is determined to ensure this thriving full service market and social
research agency continues to be a leading player in the information
industry – whether that is at home here in Australia or overseas.
AS 4752 - Australian
Standard for the Market and Social Research Industry
At a time when employee loyalty in all market sectors could be seen
to be diminishing, bounds of professional ethics are sometimes pushed
to the limit, and the Market Research industry is under threat from
the community (in the form of the Do Not Call register); businesses
need to differentiate themselves and be able to provide evidence
that they have systems in place to protect client interests.
As far as Market Research organisations are concerned, clients can
be confident of the level of service by ensuring that the company
they are dealing with is an active member of AMSRS and ASMRO (the
industry bodies that regulate the Market Research industry). Another
way is to ensure the company they are dealing with is accredited
to AS 4752 (the Australian Standard for the Market and Social Research
industry).
Taverner Research is a member of AMSRO and senior staff are long
standing members of AMSRS. The company is undergoing certification
to AS 4752 – we expect to be accredited later this year.
AS 4752 is effectively 80% of the internationally recognised ISO
9001 standard and introduces a high level of accountability to the
work place. It provides an auditable platform for continual improvement
(of systems and ways or working) and establishes a high level of
service quality. Accreditation to AS 4752 is assessed by an industry
approved independent external consultant – to this end, Taverner
has engaged NCS International.
Taverner has appointed a full time Quality Manager with over 5 years
experience setting-up and operating Quality Management Systems to
assist Taverner achieve accreditation to AS 4752. Senior management
believe accreditation is not only a point of difference and a bonus
for our clients, but also a valuable business operation model that
can take the business forward as a leading Market Research company.
The philosophy at Taverner is to use AS 4752 as an operating tool,
but also to go beyond the requirements of the standard using the
‘Taverner Way to Quality Research’ to provide the best
possible service. It is an added bonus for our clients that AS 4752
and the ‘Taverner Way’ compliment each other so well
– and evidence that Taverner has been operating successfully
under a sound management philosophy for some time.
Continual improvement is one of the fundamental concepts of AS 4752
and the ‘Taverner Way’ on which we are focusing, thus
ensuring we are leaders in the field and one step ahead of the competition.
Tom Mitchell-Taverner
June 2006
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to the Taverner Way Newsletter June 2006
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