DIMO, a prominent diversified conglomerate, has established itself as a reputable corporate with an unwavering commitment to its corporate purpose of fuelling dreams and aspirations of all its stakeholders. By expansion into various sectors including agriculture, building services, construction, digital, education, healthcare, home and garden, industrial, mobility, power, energy and water, DIMO has fostered remarkable growth. In partnerships that last generations, it provides world-class solutions and represents the world’s finest brands while adding value and convenience to consumers, in a responsible and ethical manner.

Q: How has your organisation evolved over the years and gained respect?

A: DIMO embarked on its journey in 1939. Today, after a span of over eight decades, it has evolved into a reputable conglomerate.

The company has garnered an esteemed reputation in the market with a steadfast commitment to the principles of ‘DIMO Trust’ and a relentless focus on customer satisfaction. This has enabled DIMO to diversify its operations across various sectors and solidify its position as a respectable corporate entity.

Blazing trails both domestically and internationally, DIMO has remained true to its brand promise of being ‘The Perfect Partner.’ This recognition as a reliable partner has facilitated the company’s expansion into export markets including agriculture, power, water and numerous other sectors.

Moreover, DIMO’s stature as a leading conglomerate in Sri Lanka has earned for itself widespread respect and admiration.

Q: What are the key attributes of your organisation that command respect?

A: DIMO upholds core values that contribute to its reputation. These values – namely integrity, people-centricity, excellence, customer delight and accountability – play a vital role in gaining respect from stakeholders.

Integrity and accountability serve as the foundation for building trust and understanding with our stakeholders. Moreover, our commitment to people-centricity enables us to empower communities and acts as a catalyst for delivering results.

A customer-centric approach, combined with an unwavering pursuit of excellence, has allowed us to overcome challenges and earn the respect of our customers. This is evident in our latest customer satisfaction index score, which is 89 percent as of the financial year 2022/23. Additionally, our dedication to excellence has been acknowledged through the recent accolades we have received.

We are committed to continuously improving and strengthening these key attributes as they are integral to our success and the respect we garner from our stakeholders.

Q: How costly is it to earn and maintain corporate respect today, given the volatile and uncertain business environment?

A: In today’s volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world, earning and maintaining respect for organisations is an incredibly challenging task. Respect cannot be demanded – it must be earned through consistent actions and behaviours.

With the advent of digital transformation, stakeholders are more informed and expressive through social media, increasing the risk of reputational damage for organisations. It can take a significant amount of time and effort to earn respect but that can be tarnished in an instant.

Rebuilding hard-earned respect can be an arduous and costly process, often taking considerable time – especially in the era of social media. Therefore, organisations must be vigilant and proactive in their approach to reputation management.

Q: Does environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) feature sufficiently in the ‘corporate respect’ equation?

A: Absolutely. DIMO, recognising the significance of ESG, has embedded these principles into its overall strategy, management systems and operational controls.

This is exemplified through our Sustainability Agenda 2030, which revolves around three pillars: creating a resilient business, fostering the development of resilient communities and promoting environmental conservation.

Our targets include achieving 50 percent of revenue from sustainable products and services, making a positive impact on one million individuals; increasing women’s participation in decision-making roles by 40 percent; implementing a 1:1 restoration approach; utilising 100 percent treated water; and achieving zero landfills by 2030.

This holistic ESG approach has now been formalised throughout the organisation with key performance indicators (KPIs), objectives and other measurable targets. DIMO’s Annual Report 2021/22featured its first consolidated statement of ESG performance, accompanied by comprehensive notes and a report from auditors, further affirming our steadfast commitment to ESG principles.

And this may be the first consolidated statement of ESG performance presented in an annual report in Sri Lanka.

Q: How does respect within the workplace help nurture admiration for an organisation as an employer of choice?

A: DIMO has been recognised by Great Place To Work for 10 consecutive years, demonstrating our commitment to our employee value proposition of ‘Making Work Enjoyable and Rewarding.’

Our employee engagement score has been recorded as 4.2 out of 5, and we have achieved the highest-ever employee trust index of 84 out of 100 as of 31st March 2023.

These achievements reflect an unwavering commitment to employee wellbeing and our role as a training ground for exceptional talent, providing opportunities for global careers. As one of the leading organisations in fostering a high-performance culture, DIMO continues to thrive as one of the best places to work.

We celebrate the trust we have built, which enables us to attract and retain top talent.

Q: In your opinion, how important are stakeholder perceptions – and why?

A: Stakeholders’ perceptions of an organisation play a crucial role in shaping its reputation and to serve as advocates. Positive stakeholder perceptions not only foster loyalty but also contribute to reduced employee turnover and an enhanced reputation, providing the organisation with a competitive edge.

It is important to recognise that each stakeholder group may possess different perceptions and expectations, which must be understood to influence their behaviour towards the organisation.

Our corporate purpose – ‘Fuelling Dreams and Aspirations’ of all our stakeholders – serves as the guiding framework for cultivating positive stakeholder perceptions in all our endeavours. By embracing this purpose, we are able to create value responsibly, thereby fostering a positive mindset among our stakeholders.

This purpose not only ensures that we contribute to the communities we serve but also enables us to establish strong and sustainable relationships with our stakeholders.

Through aligning its actions with the corporate purpose, DIMO actively engages with – and addresses the needs and expectations of – its stakeholders; thereby building trust, credibility and goodwill. Ultimately, this leads to long-term success and a positive reputation for the organisation.

SECTOR WINNER MOTOR

QUICK-FIRE ROUND

Three priorities for Sri Lankan corporates today
Fostering innovation to enhance competitiveness and growth, and adapt to evolving market dynamics
Developing sustainable products and services that contribute to long-term profitability while promoting environmental stewardship
Talent retention to preserve intellectual capital in the country

Three most vital professional values for business leaders
Ethical business practices that foster trust, integrity and long-term sustainability
Saying ‘no’ to bribery and corruption while upholding integrity
Conducting business operations without any political bias or favours

Telephone: 2449797 | Email: dimo@dimolanka.com | Website: www.dimolanka.com