The title is “borrowed”, from S Mitra Kalita’s latest column on Mint.
Borrowed, simply becuase it touches a very sensitive chord. The opreative words are very & sensitive here.
Now, the columns had nothing to do, directly, with retail! So, why am I using its essence here?
Simply because retail, like most other “new” business processes in India, hinges almost entirely on human resources!
Yes, its a fact that we (the humans), most of the time, take humans (ousrelves) for granted!
We talk about globalising supply-chain systems, just-in-time procurements, lean-models and so many other techno-babblish topics. BUT, very rare;y about “us”!
Let me ask you a few very straight questions:
1. Out of the last 10 meetings & high-level forums that you have attended, how many were about hr?
2. In these forums / meetings, how many instances do you recall where you’ve found BIG honchos hunched together & discussing industry specific soft issues they MUST address? and
3. While a debate / round-table / presentation was on, what percentage of time was spent on the hr angle of the subjects?
Now, I do expect you guys to sift out the contents from pure-play hr forums of course.
Be honest.
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September 7th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Quiet an interesting point arnab! We have forgotten the most valuable resource of an organization somewhere! The “Human Resource”, I have been studying the customer experience programs being run by some of the retailers! and it clearly shows that in hurry of making huge turnarounds! we have forgotten the most essential human touch!
September 13th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
A good Q. To answer honestly, out of 10 meetings/forums
1) 3
2) 6
3) 50%
But the key factor at those forums & your Q was execution/follow up/consistency. Discussions, forums, meetings are fine but till there is no follow up post the forum, and part of the points are not addressed & executed they would just remain places to be seen & giving of Gyan!