Introducing PTG
A brief history
The Performance Technologies Group Pty Ltd incorporated on 01 November 1999, represents an amalgamation of Performance Technologies Australia Pty Ltd (owned by Tom McCann and Ken Grierson) and The Veridian Group Pty Ltd (owned by Craig Errey and John Errey).
We started trading at the beginning of February 2000 at our office in Milsons Point. Within one week we had employed 2 staff. From 2000 to 2005, PTG has employed 1 person every 3 months, and has experienced growth of 50% per annum since startup. This result was the primary criterion that saw PTG enter the BRW 2004 Fast100 at position 64.
We originally focussed on usability and technical testing and since 2004 have focussed heavily on requirements and high performance user interface design with our world class user interface design methodology XPDesign™.
Our tagline is Making technology work and reflects our commitment to making technology usable for people while also ensuring that it is aligned with business objectives and their key performance indicators.
Since 2003, we have been investing 15% of revenue on R&D. PTG is a profitable organisation.
Our values
Professionalism
We are a customer focused organisation, highly professional and hard working. We pride ourselves in the high quality of our staff and uniqueness of the products that we deliver.
Meritocracy
We are an equal opportunity, merit-based organisation. You have an opportunity to progress as fast as you want to and into any role where there is an appropriate job-person fit. We do not discriminate on any non-performance related criterion in relation to any aspect of employment.
Work/play
As a growing organisation we have a very busy work environment and attempt to make it as social as possible, with regular lunches, dinners and other social activities. We are reasonable with working times; if you work hard you will be recognised.
Communication
We have regular meetings on Mondays and Wednesdays to ensure client learnings, methodologies and projects in progress are shared amongst all staff. Other communications are face-to-face or through email. “If it is important, tell someone, don’t email them.”
Ethics
The organisation’s ethics are in accordance with those prescribed by the Psychologist’s registration board.
Our general principles are:
- We don't hide things from clients
- We don't talk badly about them behind their backs
- We report all findings no matter how controversial, and apply appropriate caveats
- All psychology ethics are upheld
- We ensure that technology designs adhere to usability best practice and in line with legislation
- We pay particular attention to people with accessible needs
- We take pride in our work and quality product is paramount
If we are in any doubt, we ask ourselves, ‘if this was on the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald would I, or our customer or the company be embarrassed’?
You can download the Code of Professional Conduct here. Code of Professional Conduct
"I was amazed, when I started my internship with PTG, that the comments on the website like “We provide a preferred place of work that is inviting, encouraging, satisfying and rewarding, based on merit and performance” were true! It’s reflected a lot in everyone’s attitudes — every employee is excited and passionate about usability and user interface design, but they also know how to have a laugh and relax.
You tend to hear a lot of ‘talk’ about the benefits of job satisfaction in university lectures, but it’s great to see it working. I look forward to coming to PTG each day because I'm surrounded by young, dynamic people who are experts in their field, and who also make me feel that I have something valuable to contribute. Everyone is open and friendly and helpful, and they genuinely want the best out of me and themselves for the betterment of PTG and their clients."
Claudia
Work-placement student
Our focus on research and development
PTG expends considerable effort on developing and enhancing its Intellectual Property. On average, we invest approximately 15% of revenue on research and development to ensure we are delivering best practice to our customers. This means incorporating the research of others, or developing it ourselves. The Australian national average R&D investment by private organisations is around 1.5%.
We thank the Australian Government for granting our recent R&D Tax Concession for 2003/4 and 2004/5.
Our board
In 2005, we formed the Board of directors and invited two leading practitioners in the area of change management and leadership coaching to join the board. The PTG board comprises:
- Craig Errey — Managing Director
- John Errey — Director and Sales and marketing manager
- Neil Jones — Director
- Mal Anderson — Director
- Tom McCann - Director
