Managing People for Strategic Advantage

Overview:
In today’s complex business environment, characterised by pervasive economic uncertainty, increasing customer expectations and intensifying competition, organisations are constantly seeking to develop and executive a winning strategy. Most forward-looking organisations, realising that distinctive human resources are critical in orchestrating a winning performance, now focus much more attention on aligning and integrating their human resources function with their strategic business objectives. Recent research suggests, however, that line managers remain a vital but often weak link in the alignment process, as they are ill-equipped to effectively manage the implementation of human resource aspects of business strategy. 

The Managing People for Strategic Advantage Programme (MPSA), delivered by an outstanding faculty of recognised experts, is designed to build line managers’ HR capabilities.  Drawing on cutting-edge research from the fields of strategy, business psychology, organisational behaviour, and human resources, and through several learning methods – real-life case studies, engaging lectures, interactive classroom discussions and peer learning – practical solutions are provided to the challenges faced by managers in engaging, managing and retaining people. 

This intensive three-day programme begins with an exploration of several fundamental aspects of managing and leading people. Participants will complete a Myers-Briggs (MBTI) assessment to understand their leadership types, and how to leverage their style to get results through others and make better managerial decisions. They will also gain an appreciation of key ethical and legal issues in the employment relationship, and how to effectively handle them. The second day will focus on how to utilise various HR levers – such as culture, performance management, compensation, and coaching and mentoring – to drive business performance and create competitive advantage. The third day addresses a critical challenge line managers face: how to skillfully translate HR strategy into results. Participants will learn how to close the HR strategy execution gap, by developing skills and competencies for managing organisational power and politics, leading strategic change induced by new market conditions, and realigning HR practices to emerging strategic priorities. The MPSA concludes with each participant preparing a personal action plan for post-programme development.

Programme Focus: 

Fundamentals of Strategic People Management

• Managing and leading oneself 
• Making better managerial decisions
• Energising and engaging people for performance 
• Dealing with ethical and legal risks effectively 

Talent Management Strategies for High Performance

• Recruiting, selecting and developing talent 
• Making performance management work 
• Coaching and mentoring for results 
• Using compensation to drive performance
• Leveraging culture for competitive advantage 

Leadership and Strategic Impact

• Managing politics, power, and persuasion
• Leading people through change
• Aligning people, strategy and performance 

For: 
The programme is designed to benefit three key groups: senior executives in both private and public sector organisations whose roles require a sophisticated understanding of effective human resource management practices, middle to senior-level functional managers that need to develop their people management competencies for enhanced business performance, and HR professionals interested in learning how to systematically link people, strategy, and performance in their organisations. 

Date: 11 -13 July 2012

Fee: N 210,000

Click here to register for the Managing People for Strategic Advantage Programme