September issue – The Human Factor

On an average, an employee spends about 8 to 10 hours or more at his work place. So it is imperative that the work place is a happy one and stress free. Of late, companies are realizing the importance of a positive work environment and are doing their bit to encourage and motivate their employees so that they can put their best in their job. Also, with globalization of trade and economy taking deep roots in India and India being considered as one of the most exciting emerging economies in the world, we are facing an altogether new business environment which is complex, competitive and volatile thus posing challenges, but also offering new opportunities. In this context, the role of HR has also undergone a sea change. It is now an era of People Power. OIOP October 2012 issue looks at how HR has evolved in the past few years.

In our lead article, ‘An era of people power’, S. Y. Siddiqui, Chief Operating Officer, Admin (HR, Finance, IT, Company Law & Legal) Maruti Suzuki India Limited., writes that organisations today are continuously striving towards offering a work culture that is productive, flexible, encouraging, empowering and enabling for its people to contribute their best. Cubicles, hierarchies and rigid organisation structures of the past have now given way to open work environment, flat structure with informality being a general rule and empowerment of individuals.

In ‘Leaders of tomorrow’, Rajeev Dubey, President (Group HR, Corporate Services & After-Market) & Member of the Group Executive Board, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, says that employees are looking for purpose and meaning in their lives which go beyond parameters like profit, market share, sales growth, etc., which are necessary but not sufficient. They look for leaders to infuse this purpose into the organisation which satisfies a deep inner chord, even as physical standard of living rise.

In ‘Invest in people for competitive edge’, P. Dwarakanath, the Director – Group Human Capital of Max India Ltd., says that in any situation, companies can gain the competitive advantage by empowering its people. After all what distinguishes winning organisations from the rest are not so much their hard assets but their human capital.

In ‘A Happiness Index at workplace’, Abhijit Bhaduri, the Chief Learning Officer for the Wipro group, says that in a high stress work environment having support systems that the employee can use for psychological well being is also important. In that case, measuring the happiness quotient of employees will be a good idea, he opines.  

In ‘The victims of the ‘war for talent’’, Ganesh Chella, the founder of totus consulting, a strategic Human Resource Consulting firm and the co-founder & vice chairman of CFI (Executive & Business Coaching Foundation India Limited), observes that many Indian companies apply talent management recipes selectively and imprudently, leaving large numbers of the so called talent pools bruised and hurt. He wonders whether the organisations will transcend their agentic relationship with their employees and reach out to the human being in whom the talent rests.

In ‘The making of a dynamic woman leader’, Aparna Sharma,  Director-HR at DBOI Global Services, Deutsche Bank Group, shares her experiences as a woman professional and says that if you have confidence in your abilities, are willing to learn and honest to yourself about your limitations, no challenge is too big to accept.

In ‘Making people flower’, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, yogi, a visionary, humanitarian, author, poet, and a prominent spiritual leader, urges the HR managers to rise from their regular role so as to develop the inherent human being in an individual and thus open up the human possibility to its fullest potential.

In ‘Know India Better’, Katie Dubey shares her experience of visiting Namdapha, the world’s twelfth hot spot of bio-diversity, perhaps the last bastions of virgin nature. Both turbulent and serene, the fifteenth Tiger Reserve in the country has everything that defines nature – flourishing flora, rare fauna and extensive mountainous forests. Sadly though, these remote jungles are facing threat from mindless poachers. Katie is the author of three coffee-table books and writes for various newspapers and magazines on nature and environment.

In ‘Face to Face’, G. Ravindran (Ravi) is the chief executive officer of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) India, shares his thoughts on the future trends in HR management and the next best practices within the industry.

In the ‘General’ section, we feature an article on water crisis. In the article ‘Every drop counts’, G. Venkatesh, a post-doctoral researcher in the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, makes a passionate plea to those well endowed to save water and spare a thought for tomorrow.

In ‘Kashmiriyat -A shared legacy’, Dr. Mohd Shafi Bhat who teaches Political Science at Government Degree College, Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir, gives an insight into the unique culture of Kashmir or Kashmiriyat, an expression of solidarity, resilience and patriotism of the Kashmiri people.

Great Indians

Captain Lakshmi Sehgal, Truly Jhansi ki Rani (1914-2012) - A legendary freedom fighter, a compassionate doctor and an outstanding social activist, Capt Lakshmi Sehgal fought with determination against all forms of injustice and oppression throughout her life. She was a rare political leader, who led an exemplary life serving the poor.

 

Mrinal Gore, The Paniwali Bai of Mumbai (1928-2012) - Mrinal Gore was a crusader of people’s movement for social justice, and women’s rights. Her contribution to bring social change in the day to day life of common masses was phenomenal.

Major Rajesh Singh Adhikari MVC, Valour beyond the call of duty (1970-1999) - Major Rajesh Singh Adhikari displayed exceptional valour and leadership and laid down his life in the highest traditions of the Army. His sacrifice did not go in vain as the army secured Tololing a few days later.