HR, business leaders attend seminar by Professor Dave Ulrich
MUSCAT: Professor Dave Ulrich, World’s No. 1 in Human Resources and Leadership Management (HRLM), outlined the significance of HR in advancement of successful organisations at an event organised by Novita Eventz partnered with Al Takween Business, says a press release.
Novita Eventz formerly known as Synerggie Eventz has rebranded itself and this is the first event under this new name.
The seminar saw an attendance of more than 200 participants from all major companies, banks and even government sector. Turkish Airline was the official air carrier while Muscat Printing Press became the printing partner for the event.
Prof Ulrich said, “Organisations succeed when they have the right strategy, with the right organisation capabilities, and right individual abilities. In this concept, HR ensures that an organisation has the right culture and people to help a business succeed in spite of the fact that competitors may be able to copy price, product, and technology, but finds it more difficult to copy people and culture.”
On the alignment of top management strategies with HR practices in an organisation, he said, strategy is both about formulation and execution. “It is easier to say where we are going than to build a discipline to make sure that we get there. So, when leaders articulate a future strategy, they set a direction for what can and should be attained and accomplished. HR systems become the infrastructure for the organisation of the future.” “In the 21st century the HR professional’s value is no longer confined to just employees and man- agers, but is also vital for outside stake-holders like investors and customers too. HR departments must transform themselves into forward looking parts of every firm whose agenda is seamlessly aligned with overall corporate strategy,” remarked Prof Dave.
In an advisory to the top management, line managers and HR professionals he said: “The HR function traditionally has spent more time professing than being professional.
The HR has also been plagued by various myths like; people go into HR because they like people, or anyone can do HR or HR deals with soft side of business or focuses on costs which must be controlled, or HR is staffed by nice people and so on. And, these myths are keeping HR from being professional. But regardless of whether the myths originate with HR people or with line managers, it is time they were overcome. It is time to talk less and do more; time to add value, not write value statements; time to build competitiveness, not comfortable organisations; time to be proactive, not reactive. It is time to perform, not preach.”
In remarks on the future of HR particularly in the Middle East (ME) countries, he stated that, HR issues will become increasingly important in emerging markets. In the short term, public and private organisations in the ME will have to get the most out of their people to deliver on their strategic goals. In the longer term, a country’s most important asset is not oil or other natural reserves, but the capacity of its people to respond to changing conditions. When countries learn how to best use their people, they are more successful over time.