SHKP Quarterly

realized, whereas the latter may encounter practical difficulties at construction stage. As my role is that of a coordinator, I take different ideas and considerations of all relevant departments and working partners into account. I believe as long as we all bear in mind that the company's interest is the ultimate goal, an equilibrium point acceptable to all parties concerned can be found.' Sam believes that Building Homes with Heart is the foundation of the Group's philosophy. Working repetitively like machines without any 'heart' might be feasible during plain sailing; however, when obstacles arise, a team with no 'heart' will have a hard time finding solutions. With this in mind, Sam shares an unforgettable experience at midnight on a Sunday. He was notified that a project was in an extremely difficult situation, so he called his supervisor and colleagues at 6:00 am to wake them up for discussions on how to solve the problem. 'Faced with this kind of crisis, I could deeply feel the passion of the entire team working hard together to overcome the problem, and I truly experienced that Building Homes with Heart and Teamwork are not merely slogans but philosophy that SHKP colleagues actually believe in. We don't just get our jobs done – we get our jobs done well.' This is why he proactively helps colleagues in Guangzhou to master the Group's corporate culture through mid - management training. Helping them understand the company's work standards and beliefs can build a sense of identity and belonging. Living a balanced life and caring for staff 'Machines can't work around the clock, let alone people.' Sam says the Group promotes work-life balance, encouraging staf f to maintain a healthy division between work duties and family life. This not only helps attract talents, but also allows staff to keep abreast of new knowledge and equip themselves. He says, 'If possible, I suggest visiting more major cities around the globe or on the mainland to broaden horizons and deepen understanding of the world. My family and I often spend our holidays going to different places. Sometimes we go to shopping malls to enjoy family time as well as learn by observing.' Indeed, work and life need not necessarily be contradictory. Enjoying work is the key to balance. where our Group enjoys an advantage.' Sam also highlights that the Group's competitive edge with property development in Southern China lies in its experience developing large- scale projects. 'Take leasing as an example. The Group has extensive experience liaising with international tenants and corporates so it is easier for us to understand their needs. By contrast, mainland developers are relatively weaker in operating long-term investment properties and lack such leasing experience', adds Sam. Every detail counts Plan big and bold, yet execute with care. Sam is convinced that every detail counts in a project. For example, a tenant will consider if the shopping mall is willing to accommodate their specifications before they confirm the location. 'Nowadays, many high-end restaurants feature open kitchens. But to meet this requirement, a mall has to first ensure that there is sufficient power load capacity because open kitchens, where flame cooking is not allowed, consume huge amounts of power. In addition, there are different fire safety and structural design standards as well as requirements for open kitchens. We can't afford to find solutions only when tenants request, so all of these details have to be taken into account as early as the design and construction stage of the mall,' he says. With the rapid advancement of technology, Sam states that in order to develop a large evergreen project, it is necessary to consider it s compatibilit y with possible f uture technological innovations at the planning stage. After all, the pace of new technology introduction and its range of applications can go well beyond what we can imagine. That is why the Group launched the SHKP Malls App at the beginning of this year to comprehensively enhance customers' shopping experience. Sam also believes that technology brings about a huge change in the operation of shopping malls. Through the use of new technology, shopping mall operators will be able to learn more about consumers’ preferences and formulate an appropriate tenant mix. Building a team with corporate culture Technology is changing and so are trends. However, Sam firmly believes that a strong corporate culture is the Group's unchangeable key to success. Sam has served with the Group twice. Initially, he was primarily responsible for managing projects in Hong Kong at the Project Management department. Later, he returned to the Group as the General Manager of the Southern China region. During the few years he served outside the company, Sam developed an even better appreciation for the Group's corporate culture of 'Quality, Speed, Efficiency'. With regard to the Group's quality culture, he realized that there is no single standard for 'good quality'. In many cases, the geographical location needs to be taken into account as well. He says, 'For example, there are different requirements for "good" architectural design in different regions. Applying the same standard invariably to projects in different regions can have a negative impact on cost control.' Sam believes that only candid communications can build a close-knit team. This is why he likes to talk directly with colleagues from different departments at different levels. Direct and genuine communications can help the team understand one another's thoughts more accurately. He says, 'For example, it's not surprising that design teams and construction teams hold different opinions. The former always sketch out the best ideas in mind and hope that every detail of their designs will be Sam thinks that the Group's belief in Building Homes with Heart is very helpful in creating team spirit 黎祥掀認為集團「以心建家」的信念，對建立團隊精神有很大幫助 19