CII meet forecast role of HR as business driver

Participating in the CII HRM Summit 2008 on he Winning HR Strategies here, they outlined the implications of growth for HR and discussed the evolution of the HR function from a business partner to a business driver adding value for the organization. The tone was set by Mr Sunil Kant Munjal, Past President CII and Chairman, Hero Corporate Services, in his keynote address when he said a company is known by the people it keeps. People are the real asset of any company and the only asset which keeps on appreciating. As HR practitioners, we must realize that individuals need special attention, he pointed out.

Taking a wider canvas, Mr Munjal reminded the delegates that as they build their departments, build their companies, each HR professional is also doing nation building by motivating better performances and higher productivity.
This point was reiterated by Mr R Sankar, Executive Director, Pricewaterhouse Coopers Pvt Ltd, who said that we have to carry different sections of society with us or else the growth will be only chimerical. He called for HR inclusiveness.
Mr B Santhanam, Chairman, CII-IR Committee and Managing Director, Saint Gobain, likened the role of HR practitioners to that of a gardener who job is pick, prune and undertake pest control. The challenge in the current economic scenario, he explained, was one of managing diversity and creating alignment with organizational goals at the same time.

Earlier, Mr Shekhar Purohit, Asia-Pacific Head (Executive Compensation and Corporate Governance), Hewitt Associates outlined the theme of the summit and stressed that HR was the forefront value provider for most business. People are the last mile for most organizations to create a competitive advantage, he said.

The overarching thought that clearly emerged was that the management of human resources holds the key to future success in a scenario where organizations are striving to meet the competitive challenges of today and tomorrow including globalization, technology, profitable growth and capacity for change.

Concurring on the role of HR as a value driver in an increasingly competitive global economy, Mr Salil Singhal, Chairman, CII Northern Region and Chairman, Secure Metres Ltd, noted that we are in a new stage of globalization where talent and brainpower are becoming the predominant currency.

Already, new markets are opening up, new workforces are emerging, and new ways of working are challenging our thought processes. As Mr Aquil Bursai, Executive Director (HR), IBM India Ltd, said HR policies and philosophies have to change with time. He cited the emergence of virtual teams, disappearance of brick-and-mortar offices, increasing cultural diversity and younger managers. Correspondingly, mobility policies and training on ethics are some of the new ways by which to ensure that HR adds value to the business.

Another point that presenters highlighted was that people are no longer motivated by cash alone. HR practitioners have to increasingly look at total rewards packages and providing people with leadership opportunities.

As Mr Ajay Soni, Practice Head, Hewitt Associates, pointed out, there was an urgent to develop a leadership pipeline, and motivate the intellectual and emotional energy of people.Mr V C Agarwal, Director HR, IOCL, pointed out that the challenge was to produce quality, skilled manpower and harness the demographic dividend. No Indian company can remain insulated from global competition.

The audience was also inspired by a presentation on CII Affirmative Action, which outlined the CIIs commitment to inclusive growth. Explaining the programme, Ms Malini Thadani, Head of Public Affairs & Corporate Responsibility, HSBC, said competitiveness and inclusiveness should be treated as twin objectives.

The two-day CII HRM Summit in New Delhi is part of the apex bodys continuous endeavour to introduce the industry to new management ideas and techniques.