Recommendation: Free Online Courses

04 August, 2012 - Singapore: For the last 2 weeks, I have been burning "midnight oil" ... studying online on various courses (e.g., HRM, Legal Studies, Growth Strategies for Business, Behavioral Base Safety (aka BBS), etc.). All the studies thanks to this website sponsored by ALISON (based in Ireland).

You should give it a try ... as they say in Singapore, "You need to periodically up-grade / up-date yourself ... to be competitive"

Try the link http://alison.com/

ANSI-SHRM: HR Metrix for Investor

04 August, 2012 - I came across an article about an initiative by ANSI-SHRM to develop a "HR Metrics for Investor". It talks about what "HR criteria" investors are looking for when investing in an organization.

For those HR professionals who wish to have additional knowledge on this topic, you may want to visit the following website:

http://hrstandardsworkspace.shrm.org/apps/group_public/document.php?document_id=6504&wg_abbrev=mamt02

http://creelmanlambert.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/hr-metrics-for-investors-the-coming-ansi-standard.pdf

Getting a Degree via Life Experience Learning ... Diploma Mills???

Jun / Jul 2012 - I decided to apply for a "life learning experience" degree from an online university (actually two). I though it was a non-traditional degree and would be something new for me ... too my shocking after submitting my "very detailed" CV ...  I was informed via email that I was eligible ... hmmm!! ... more like qualify to earn a degree via my working experience and other paper qualification [e.g., associate diploma (in US is known as associate degree) from TAFE Western Australia, MBA from University of Keele (formerly known as Keele University), a diploma from Ascentis UK, a diploma from NCFE UK and 'currently' pursuing an EMBA from AEU]

Initially, I accepted the offer and paid US559 (including shipping & Handling) - then my wife told me that it was a scam ... I did some Google and You Tube ... and got a lot of negative review from the victims. I wrote to the online university to withdraw my application ... and still waiting for the refund ... they deducted USD50 for processing fee!

I am not going to name the online university but would like to share with all of you about this website  .... it is an education guide and has detail information about "Life Experience Degree"

http://www.bakersguide.com/Articles/Articles/Life_Experience_Degrees:_Are_They_Legitimate?/ 

In the USA, there is only 3 state college that allow "prior learning accreditation" and they allow credit transfer (in Singapore / Malaysia, we call it Exception) for subject you have taken ... they don't use "life learning experience". The colleges are Excelsior College, Thomas Edison State College, and Chartered Oak State College. There are also known as the 'big3' in USA.

I am currently applying for admission into Excelsior College and 2nd choice Chartered Oack State College. I plan to enroll in their online degree program in HRM ... if they grant me around 90 credit hours ... mean I only need to complete 30 credit hours online. [Okay x2 .. I know I have a double master already but I still love to study ... education is a life time journey!]

Skip-Level Meeting

Another typical American HRM term ...

Skip-Level Meeting is a meeting between managers and team members who are one or more levels below them. The purpose of a skip-level meeting is for managers to get to know their team members, build trust with them, and understand their problems. Skip-level meetings can never take the place of direct communications within teams, but it can be a powerful adjunct to these efforts.

Skip Level Meeting Key Concepts:

• Group round-table meetings are more efficient than one-on-one meetings for skip-level meetings.
• Leading organizations plan a skip-level meeting with every team or workgroup at least once per year.
• Don’t wait for your boss or the HR department to arrange skip-level meetings for your direct reports.
• There are five key steps to conducting an effective skip-level meeting:

1. Plan the skip level meeting
2. Conduct the skip level meeting and record the feedback
3. Analyze the information collected at the skip level meeting
4. Create an action plan based on the feedback
5. Follow up and report progress

"Furlough"

I have learn a new wording this week - "Furlough" ... so what does it mean in HR term?

"Furlough"... a temporary layoff, involuntary leave or other modification of normal working hours without pay for a specified duration. Furloughs are used in the military for soldiers whose new assignments have not yet been determined. For businesses, furloughs are used for a variety of reasons, like plant shut-downs, or in cases where a broad reorganization makes it unclear which employees will be retained.

PwC Website: Information about Immigration & Tax

Just like to shared this PwC website with those who are seeking information on immigration and international assignment services.

Click the link: http://www.pwcias.com/home/eng/imm_newsletter_sep2011.html

Emerging Trend in Interview Approach

There has been an emerging trend in management interviewing approach. I called it the "Marathon" approach.


The approach will start with the usual telephone interview by the hiring manager and within a week they will arrange you to attend 2 to 3 session of interview within a day. Listed below are some of the approaches: -


Example # 1: Foreign MNC

• Day 1 - interviewed by Person A
• Day 2 - Interviewed by company peer / stakeholder (minimum: 3 peers)
• Day 2 - interviewed by local senior / top management (1 - 2 person)
• Day 3 - interviewed by HQ functional head (1 - 2 person)

Example # 2: Local Conglomerate 

• 1pm - interviewed by Person A
• 2pm - interviewed by Person B
• 3pm - interviewed by Person C

After the interview or the following next day, they will inform you of their decision whether you are shortlisted (or offered the job) or not successful. 

I notice that each phases of interview - the focus is different e.g.,: the 1st interview will focus on assessing the candidate work competency; 2nd interview will focus on communication / interaction skills; 3rd interview - focus on the candidate overview understanding of the business.

It is my observation that all the interviewers were very well prepared and trained for such type of interview approach.

My Secondary Research on Whistle Bowling ... Articles, Reporting Websites, Legislations & etc.

Lately I have been doing my own "secondary" research on whistle bowling as it is an area that some HR Manager in the growing SME (Small & Medium Enterprise) and SMI (Small & Medium Industry) need to maange. It is an emerging task for HR professional in this sector.

Listed below are some online reading material for those interested ... I hope theses identified website will save time for people who need a quick self-reading on "whistle bowling 101". Do take note that not all the articles are based on Singapore context.

I will add more link from time to time in this article.

1) From Asia One Business website:
http://www.asiaone.com/Business/News/Office/Story/A1Story20080526-67054.html

2) Wikipedia website:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistleblower

3) Channel News Asia website:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1033296/1/.html

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1113457/1/.html

4) Santa Clara University website:
http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/submitted/whistleblowing.html

5) CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development)
http://www.cipd.co.uk/hr-resources/factsheets/whistleblowing.aspx

6) Direct Gov., UK
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/ResolvingWorkplaceDisputes/Whistleblowingintheworkplace/DG_175821

7) Business Link, UK
http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?itemId=1082104950&type=RESOURCES

HR Business Partnering Concept

Another article NOT written by me ... but felt it is my responsibility to shared with my followers ...

Human Resources is not just a support function, it has to build a regular HR Business Partnering concept as it seen by the managers as the valuable partner for the business. The HR Business Partnering is about the understanding the business of the partner and helping to decide issues in the people management area.

The HR Business Partnering is about changing the focus of Human Resources. The people in Human Resources cannot be focused on solving the issues of managers and employees of the organization and they have to focus on delivering the value added to the business leaders and they have to focus on building new quality relationships across the organization.

The real business partnership is based on the common trust and it is extremely difficult to build a position of the business partner for Human Resources. The HR Manager can speak about the business partnering HR Model, but he has to be accepted as a partner in a discussion.

The HR Business Partnering model is about setting the HR Strategy and customizing it to the needs of the individual business partners, but within set boundaries. The business partnering is about the proactive approach of both partners, it is not about the requests of the business leader and potential solutions finding from Human Resources. They both have to work on elaborating the best suitable solution and it has to be a result of the work of both partners.

The HR has to be proactive in setting the business-partnering model. It is easy to say “I will be your business partner.” and it is extremely hard to say, “I really know, I am your business partner.” HR has to fight for its position as the department valuable to listen to. It is not built from a day to day, it takes months and years to implement the concept.

The HR Department has to change itself to be seen as the partner. The HR Business Partners have to be hired and they are usually the people with no previous experience in Human Resources. They have to learn the basics of Human Resources and they have to learn the details about their partners. They have to demonstrate their skills of the area of expertise of the client as they are accepted as partners in discussions.

Each HR Director has to think about the benefits of the HR Business Partnering model for the organization. Many organizations do not need such a concept and the HR Director should recognize it.

[Source: http://www.simplehrguide.com/hr-business-partnering-concept.html]

Tips on HR Business Partnering

This is not my article but felt it is a good reading for people who want to know what is HR Business Partnering ...

1. Know what the business drivers for change are. What do managers need to be able to do to deliver what the business requires? What will HR need to do to support them in this?

2. Decide how best to structure HR to support the line. Review how well HR is currently meeting these needs and make changes to deliver what is required.

3. Involve the business and HR in implementing partnering. It is important that people are involved in any changes that take place, as imposed models have little chance of success. We need to understand how the approach will work for everyone involved.

4. Ensure senior management are seen to be driving the changes. This is not just an HR initiative or fad, it is an organisational change and a whole new way to deliver support services to add value in a cost-effective manner.

5. Recognise the impact it will have on line managers. Are managers 'willing', 'able' and 'allowed' to change. You will find resistance if any of these conditions are not met.

6. Be very clear on the roles within HR. Ensure everyone is very clear as to their responsibilities. Wherever possible, ensure that it is the HR business partners that drive what is required within HR to meet the needs of the organisation, rather than the more central parts of HR or indeed line managers themselves.

7. Know how all the roles will work together. Choose some key situations, such as implementing a new organisational strategy, developing the people plan, disciplining a very senior manager, implementing a new job evaluation program or managing a large scale recruitment, and track through with the whole of the HR team, exactly who will do what and where the 'hand-off' points will be and how they will take place. Be clear on the entry points for managers as well as those for other employees.

8. Continually review effectiveness of the model you have introduced. It is unlikely that you will get the model that suits you straight away. Making the necessary tweaks and changes as required will increase chances of long-term success. Include line managers in your reviews.

9. Make sure you have the right people in the right roles. Not everyone is suited to the more strategic role of the HR business partner and it is often down to preference and attitude as much as it is to skill. Put in place a development program for all individuals and roles to help people to meet their career aspirations.

10. Where possible, use virtual teams and align to different parts of the business. By introducing a formal HR business partnering approach, you will have broken the service up into bits. It is important for the line that these areas then work together again in teams to deliver a seamless service for different parts of the business.

(Source: http://www.hcamag.com/resources/learning-and-development/steps-to-successful-hr-business-partnering/113976/)

Thinking of Outsource "Whistle Blowing" or "Compliance Reporting"

Just drop in to share with you all that you can outsource your whistle blowing or compliance reporting mechanism to this company that is managing the website "My Safe Workplace".

You can visit the following website: http://www.mysafeworkplace.com/Home.aspx

What is Garden or Gardening Leave in HRM Context?

Garden leave (or Gardening leave) is the term given to a situation whereby an employee is required to serve out a period of resignation notice at home.

During this period the employee continues to receive all salary and benefits but is prohibited from commencing employment with new employers until the gardening leave period has expired.

It is a practice which employers often adopt with employees who have access to confidential information or customers and where they are leaving to join a competitor.

During the gardening leave period the employee’s access to such information or customers is restricted.

(source: http://www.roydens.co.uk/content11.htm)