Based in Australia, Steve Simpson created the UGRs concept in the early 1990s after coming to realise that his work with companies on customer service was influenced heavily by workplace cultures. Steve created the UGRs concept in recognition of the fact that most of the literature and models on workplace culture was complex, academic and impractical.

Around the same time, yet on the other side of the planet in South Africa, Stef du Plessis was forging a career in the employee engagement space. Working under the auspices of the University of Johannesburg, Stef had built a team of OD practitioners and was working with major corporations – all the time looking for new ways to get employees on board and on track.