Date:13/09/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/09/13/stories/2005091300951900.htm

Back HR experts stress on strategies to retain knowledge

Our Bureau

Bangalore , Sept. 12

"GROOMING talent to leadership positions is not an HR function, but the priority of the board," said Ms Revathi Kasturi, President, Tarang Technologies, and Executive Council member of Nasscom, in her opening remarks at a Nasscom-Sapient sponsored discussion on `Developing the Right Leadership in your Organisation.'

She stressed the need for a comprehensive cross training strategy to ensure that knowledge and experience is retained and distributed throughout the organisation.

Mr R. Vidyasagar, Director, HR, Philips Software Centre, said that competition should no longer be looked at with rivalry and scepticism. He gave the instance of a consortium of companies that is working together to rewrite business curriculum in B-schools. "There is value in working together and setting higher standards for the industry," according to him.

Mr Ranjan Acharya, Vice-President, Corporate HRD, Wipro, advised HR managers to create energy, enthusiasm and stretch among employees. "Organisations should allow employees to stretch their goals without attaching a punitive clause for not achieving those goals," he said.

Agreeing with this HR strategy for leadership development, Mr Changappa Kodendera, Vice-President and Co-Managing Director, Sapient, recommended the HR fraternity not to use the `or-else' factor because it may not yield any results.

"On the other hand, a leader's job is to keep people rallied and engaged," he maintained.