HR Lessons at LUMS

More than any hardware or software, a company’s Human Resource is the most important asset of any organization, and as such should always be taken into consideration if an organization wishes to progress. In keeping with the idea, the Lahore University of Management Sciences, LUMS, hosted the LUMS Human Resource Confluence. This year’s event focused more on strategic human resource management rather than functional human resource management in order to eventually be able to achieve more sustainable organizational growth

Organized by the LUMS HR executive Club, the LUMS HR Confluence 2011 opened on April 23, 2011 and attracted members from both the industry and the student population. In all, about 80 corporate executives and 170 students from various renowned universities attended the LUMS HR Confluence 2011. During the event, panel discussions were also held to better explain to all the participants how to strategize and plan to obtain more substantial growth for all the human resource employed in their organization.

The first of the panel discussions was titled ‘Sustaining a competitive advantage through a culture of excellence’. Here the focus was on the relationship between Human resource management and the strategic decisions taken to ensure a smooth-running organization. Particular attention was paid, during this session, to developing an understanding amongst the audience of how Human resource management strategy and organizational strategy can support and complement the other. The panelists gave insights in their respective organizational strategies for recruiting and training the best possible employees; building commitment and enthusiasm through communication and recognition; and designing a culture of excellence that puts the ‘people-factor’ before any other consideration.

Following this was another panel discussion that focused on ‘Innovation C0apability: Alignment with organizational strategy, structure, systems, culture & firm performance in corporations.’ The panelists to this discussion talked about the importance of innovation for an organization to run successfully and, with the participants, discussed how an HR practitioner can set the parameters that are needed to more successfully inculcate an innovation-driven culture in organizations.

In this case, a lot of examples from both the corporate and the public sector were shared with the audience to better explain the importance of aligning organizational strategy, structure, systems, culture & firm performance in corporations. An interactive sessiocn between the panelists and the audience followed this, especially in the context of major shifts taking place because of globalization, changing demographics and social technologies.

Led by LUMS business school HR faculty, the interactive session touched on the role of effective Human Resource Management in fostering an organizational culture based on ethical values. Dr. Farzad shared several examples of global corporate crime. He also pointed out several flaws in the modern corporate management structure which fosters this culture of business corruption, so obviously existing in many organizations in the country. Furthermore, he also shared an alternate style of management and business ethics to counter this surge in corporate corruption.

A Practical Approach

At the LUMS HR Confluence, workshops were also held to allow participants to learn from some of the best HR practitioners of the country. The first of these was Kamran Rizvi who conducted a workshop on ‘Nurturing an innovation driven culture in an organization in times of economic downturn’. The activity-based workshop included dividing the attendees into small groups before asking them to come up with innovative business ideas.

The second workshop was titled ‘Strategic HR Management’ and was conducted by Sohail Zindani who entertained the audience with experiences from the work place. Alongside the laughter, the examples taught the participating students important lessons on issues like talent management, wok life balance and employee management. The third workshop, ‘Motivation for challenging goals in life’ was conducted by Naseem Zafar and included an outdoor activity after which the attendees presented important tools and organizational systems that could be used to improve employee motivation.

The workshop helped students studying Human Resource Management to better understand the concepts that apply in managing the task force to benefit the organization.

The attendees at the conference consequently learnt how to strategically manage the task force they oversee to achieve more sustainable growth for their company also.

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