Human Resources

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 02 jan 2014

As technology continues to pervade every aspect of human life, both personal and professional, it becomes essential for humans to have set of skills that complement the intelligent machine environment for their better prospects in future. Article explores the human types based on their mental abilities that complement the mechanized intelligence and will thrive in this environment in times to come - Freestylers (skill of knowing when a specific situation or case is following predictable patterns guided by intelligent machine and when there is a possibility of divergence or error); Synthesizers (capacity to explore and analyze vast amount of data and derive a generalized pattern and story); Humanizers (keeping the human aspects intact and making the interplay between man and machine more natural); Conceptual Engineers (ability to devise creative methods to think and solve unexpected problems); Motivators (ability to motivate in the machine dominated environment with lessened human-based evaluation and exchange); Moralizers (valuing human moral traits in the machine based environment with performance metrics while evaluating humans); Greeters (ability to attract customers by personalized and customized high-end service approach); Economizers (economic advising skills for those with less disposable income to provide better lifestyle opportunities); Weavers (skills that will combat social disintegration and dangerous inegalitarian tendencies of the new world). Read on...

The New York Times: Thinking for the Future
Author: David Brooks

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 30 dec 2013

Business ethics are an important element of corporate governance and are critical for building public trust and achieving long term success of the businesses. According to the report by SHRM Foundation, more than half of the 10 largest corporate bankruptcies since 1980, costing US$ 1.228 trillion to the owners and the economy, were caused by unethical business practices. While on the other hand, the stock price growth of 100 firms with most ethical culture outperformed stock market and peer indices by 300%, mentions Great Places to Work Institue. Linda Fisher Thornton, author of '7 Lenses: Learning the Principles and Practices of Ethical Leadership', provides seven tips to be an ethical leader - (1) Face the complexity involved in making ethical choices (2) Don't separate ethics from day-to-day business (3) Demonstrate respect for everyone at all times (4) Don't think about ethics as just following laws and regulations (5) Don't exempt anyone from meeting ethical expectations (6) Celebrate positive ethical moments (7) Don't ever stop being ethical. Read on...

Business Report: The ethical workplace
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 29 dec 2013

CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) phenomenon is finding relevance around the world. In a recently held 'CSR Saudi Arabia 2013 Conference' the main focus was to encourage Saudi business leaders to participate in initiatives to provide youths with employment skills and promote their civic engagement. Saudi Arabia's 65% population is below the age of 25 years and holds the potential to lead the country for a better socio-economic future. The main themes of the conference included job creation, community-based initiatives, gender diversity, and growing a knowledge-based economy. According to Huda Hakki, Programs & Projects Department Director of the King Khalid Foundation, although Saudi Arabia is one of the highest in philanthropy but partnerships and collaborations among various stakeholders ensure effective use of resources to build a vibrant civil society and thriving business and entrepreneurial community. Read on...

CSRwire: Corporate Social Responsibility Takes Center Stage in Saudi Arabia
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 17 dec 2013

Eric McNulty, a retail industry and leadership expert, explains how an experience in retail provides lessons that can develop and enhance leadership abilities - Don't just be different, be special (make customers part of your enterprise and delight them so much that they form an emotional attachment to the brand); Pick up the trash (don't hesitate to act on even smaller things if there is a need, become visible to your customers, model the behavior that you want others to follow, develop emotional connect with customers and employees); Don't blow a long-term relationship over a short-term glitch (create clarity around what a customer experience feels like in your context, understand the competitive offerings as the customers are aware too in today's connected world); When your name is on it, you own it (cutomers may not understand the organizational separation of working units so if they see a corporate connection then you should make sure to deliver as corporate reputation might be at stake); Frontline employees are too often undervalued (keep in mind the value of the employees who are at the bottom of the hierarchical pyramid in the organization, understand their needs and ensure their well being with proper pay and benefit policies, training efforts and other support mechanisms). Read on...

strategy+business: Learning the Leadership Lessons of Retail
Author: Eric J. McNulty

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 16 dec 2013

Among many leadership qualities and traits, the ability to have 'emotional connect' and reach people and inspire them, is one of the most important. Some of the leadership tools that can assist to inspire, encourage and enhance talent are - Emotional Intelligence (understand empathy and ability to read peoples needs and desires); Continuous Learning (curiosity and an insatiable desire to do better and embrace new knowledge and fresh input); Contextualize (understand specific situations and implement solutions accordingly); Let Go (inspire, influence, guide, support, give people freedom to perform and get out of the way); Honesty (being transparent and accountable, inspire with heart); Kindness and Respect (avoid ignorance and arrogance); Collaboration (consider employees as partners and communicate openly and honestly about organization's strategies, goals and challenges); Partner with Your People (understand employee goals and assist them). Read on...

Forbes: Leadership is About Emotion
Author: Meghan M. Biro

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 11 dec 2013

'Liberation Management' is the concept that encourages workers to be themselves without the limiting and formal workplace norms and professional attitudes. The boundaries between home and work are blurring. Workers are provided freedom to carry on their duties without being restricted to workplace. Organizational structures are less hierarchical and more flexible. Collaborations are on ad hoc basis. Professor Peter Fleming of Cass Business School in London, used the concept of 'biopower' developed by Michel Foucault, a French expert in the working of discipline and control, to examine the pros and cons of the present day freedom and autonomy of workers. According to him, this is a 'lifestyle approach' to management, where companies expect better performance by encouraging employees to be their everyday selves on the job. Life skills, communication & organization skills and emotional intelligence are now the key competences. Read on...

ANI News: Experts say line between professional and personal life 'blurring'
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 25 nov 2013

In a rapidly changing business environment with technology, innovation, globalization and the need for continuous improvement, it is important for leaders and managers to effectively manage and adapt to these changes for long-term growth and success of the company. Managers first have to understand and convince themselves of the need and benefits of the change and then utilize effective methods to lead their team to embrace that change. According to the Best Practices Report (2012) by Prosci, a change management research organization, there are five roles managers should play to ensure change is well adopted - (1) Communicator (effectively communicate and create awareness of the change and its benefits); (2) Advocate (exemplify the change with actions and proactively advertise and promote the message of change); (3) Coach (understand and work to remove barriers to change from within the team members and mentor and guide them towards smooth transition); (4) Resistance Manager (overcome resistance to change from among the team by giving time to each member and uplift their morale to adopt change); (5) Liaison (work as a bridge between the top leadership and the workers to understand and receive the change from top and translate it for operational adaptation). Read on...

Gulf Business: What's A Manager's Role During A Change In The Workplace?
Author: Debbie Nicol

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 24 nov 2013

Physician Assistants (PA) are healthcare professionals that can provide broad range of healthcare services in a collaborative capacity with a physician. They can also perform a limited number of healthcare duties independently. They are an important part of the healthcare human resources and their role is becoming more prominent considering the shortage of qualified physicians in many countries. Their presence is well recognized in military assignments, international humanitarian projects, during epidemics and health crises, in rural and remote areas etc. The article by Professor Ruth Ballweg of Washington University, provides an analysis of the growing importance of PA's and how the profession evolved over a period of time in various parts of the world. Moreover the article also mentions the various educational programs that are geared towards providing PA qualifications in many countries. Read on...

Healthcare Global: The Global PA (Physician Assistant) Phenomenon
Author: Ruth Ballweg, Alyssa Clark

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 23 nov 2013

In today's globalized world and business environment diversity is an important element of the competitive advantage. Organizations are trying to mirror the segments of the customers they serve into their workforce for better connect and understanding. This results in enhanced and valued relationships and partnerships. Moreover according to experts diverse workforce directly affects the organization's bottom-line and leads to better problem solving, better client insights and better employee relations. Professor Sonia Kang of Rotman School of Management says that organizations with diverse workforce find less absenteeism, less turnover, higher productivity and more commitment, giving employees sense of belonging and making them better workers. Inspite of so many benefits of diversity there are still visible workplace biases. According to a study by University of Toronto professor Philip Oreopoulos, online job applicants with English names and Canadian or British education and experience were more than three times more likely to get response for interview than equally qualified applicants from China, India or Pakistan. Read on...

The Globe and Mail: Workplace diversity - 'To win in your market, you need to hire the market'
Author: Jonathan Stoller

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 23 nov 2013

Diversity focused hiring is an important requirement for inclusive corporate human resources. In a recent survey of 400 business executives worldwide by Korn/Ferry Insitute it is found that 96% of them believe that having a diverse and inclusive workforce can improve employee engagement and business performance. 72% mentioned about having diversity and inclusion programs in their organizations while less than 25% said their companies provide financial incentives to senior management to encourage inclusion. Read on...

Fox Business: Creating Diverse Workforce Requires Strategic Hiring
Author: Chad Brooks

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