Auramarine specializes in fuel supply systems for the marine industry. The company has its headquarters in Finland and a subsidiary in China. Both employ approximately 65 people. The Finnish office focuses on product development, design, sales, and administrative functions. Auramarine has recruited several new experts in Finland in recent years. HR Director Veera Ekuri was looking for a solution for the staff day program that would help people get to know each other and strengthen cooperation between teams.
"We wanted to increase understanding of different ways of working and lower the threshold for contacting colleagues you don't know yet," says HR Director Veera Ekuri, explaining the goals.
Solution
Auramarine ended up choosing SmoothTeam simulation as part of its work community day.
“I Googled the options and SmoothTeam immediately stood out: ready-made content, an app, and facilitated implementation. I liked that this isn’t just a paper version, but a digital and modern tool,” says Ekuri.
The teams were mixed at different tables so that participants could also get to know colleagues they were less familiar with. "It was a positive surprise how well people got involved. In large groups, many people are usually reluctant to share their thoughts, but now the discussion worked well and was relaxed," says Ekuri.
"The best thing was that there was lively discussion and laughter in a positive sense. That's not something we're used to in our engineering team," Ekuri continues.
Results
- The threshold has been lowered: People feel more comfortable contacting colleagues when they are now familiar with those working in other buildings.
- New encounters: We learn new things about the people we work with.
- Shared experience: The entire staff shared the experience, which strengthened their team spirit.
“I recommend SmoothTeam both within my own team and in larger implementations. It provides a framework for discussion, brings out different perspectives, and helps you understand why your colleagues act in certain ways,” says Ekuri.
Auramarine HR Director Veera Ekuri emphasizes that the benefits gained from simulation are directly linked to leadership and individual attention: "Especially in teams, supervisors should know their people well enough so that everyone has a clear understanding of the same goal and communication works. People need to be approached in different ways. Some want to come to the office, others prefer to work remotely, and still others communicate best in writing. When you understand these differences, it becomes easier to get things done and work together smoothly."
According to Eukuri, knowing people is not just a "nice extra," but a crucial factor in smooth everyday life and achieving goals. "It definitely helps teamwork when you understand other people a little better as human beings," Eukuri sums up.
