Recruiting talent, challenge of HR

The present trend is not to recruit people but talent, said Director Asia CIPD UK Jerry Connor. Connor, chief guest at the International HR conference said that the global recession has changed how people think and work. As a result of the recession a new set of opportunities and challenges have emerged and HR is in the forefront of these challenges.

He said that a person who wishes to manage a cricket team does not have to source all players from one country instead he can recruit the best talent from all over the world.

Three years ago some people insulted HRM as being irrelevant to the real work of business, but how will they feel now if their company or career is in a crisis. Then they will understand things in the correct perspective as HR matters enormously in good times while it defines you during bad times.

He said that CIPD is involved in a global research project to identify next generation HR. According to research findings in most places leading edge thinking is being outstripped by leading edge practice. He said that HR is reshaping business strategy while prompting the future and looking at building the kind of agile and changeable cultures that can stay one step ahead of the fast moving world. Therefore our future is being defined by a set of highly entrepreneurial practitioners around the world and less by a few global thinkers.

Connor said that according to research findings 61 percent of the CEOs have great difficulty to attract and retain staff as the demand for talent is increasing daily.

The President of IPM Lalith Wijetunge said that IPM will open a centre in Jaffna as there is a high demand for HR studies. At present IPM has centers in Kandy, Kurunegala, Gampaha and Negombo. Wijetunge said that with the easing of the financial crisis there is a need to motivate economic optimism. The people factor today is crucial and therefore HRM plays a major role. Today managing people at work has become complex and challenging. All study courses of IPM blend theory and practice so that HR managers can perform their duties efficiently and effectively.

Wijetunge said that IPM has finished the second stage of the head office at a cost of Rs. 250 mn. It includes state-of-art lecture halls, a business school and a members lounge. The facilities are available to organisations as well. The IPM gold medal for the most outstanding HR professional of the year was awarded to Professor H.H.D.N.P. Opatha. This is a once in a life time award. International HR awards were given to former President NIPM India Partha Chaterjee, Dr R.L. Bhatia and Amendra Mahapatra.

National HR excellence awards were won by Gemidiriya Foundation (Performance Management), Link Natural Products (Employee Relations and Industrial Relations) and Union Assurance (Employee Training and Development).

SG