The Singapore HR Challenge: An Overview
As
HR increasingly shifts to a more strategic role in business, it
is an opportune time to launch the Singapore HR Challenge – an
initiative by the Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) to
engage future leaders, people managers, critical thinkers, and
contributors of the new workforce. The Challenge is a platform
to showcase innovation and creativity as well as promote
progressive HR to students. The theme for Singapore HR Challenge
2010
is Managing Diversity: Bridging Communication Gaps
2010 Theme: Managing Diversity: Bridging Communication Gaps
In one of the recent studies conducted by
Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI), it was unleashed
that ‘Leadership is becoming even scarcer resources than ever
before’. Such scarcity for true leaders may trigger complexities
in business and baffle employees and employers alike. The study
also revealed that companies in Singapore are facing a challenge
of improving leadership development. Leadership development also
emerges as a key issue because of changing demography, diverse
workforce, changing communication styles and nature of
leadership itself. This study thus attempted to define
leadership in the Singapore’s context, identify leadership
issues and challenges of managing diversity as well as to
understand the different ways leaders employ to bridge
communication gaps. Leadership is something more talked about
and less applied.
Managing Diversity in Uncertain Times
Though
leadership is one of the most extensively researched areas of
study, yet it becomes a very challenging task in times of
uncertainty. The current economic turmoil has lots of impact on
leadership in Singapore with respect to managing diversity
through bridging communication gaps.
Risks Involved in Managing Diversity
Managing
diversity is a challenge and with it comes risks. Leaders have
to manage and overcome the risks involved in managing diversity.
Understanding the various ways Leaders employ to bridge the
Communication Gaps
The increasingly diverse workforce is definitely
going to contribute to the organisational silos. As it is
something that cannot be eliminated, leaders can try to build
communication bridges across such silos to manage diversity.
Leaders have to act as linking agents to connect different parts
and players of the organisation by helping to articulate various
points of views.
What is expected of the
participants?
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Against this
backdrop, participants are required to establish a study
based on 2 key challenges selected from above.
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Participants
shall interpret, express and study the above
challenges mentioned above, by introducing,
discussing, analysing and innovating any frameworks,
processes, models or solutions to meet these challenges. For
example, the participants can discuss the actual merits of
an existing policy and introduce new framework or policy.
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Participants
are encouraged to conduct surveys, interviews and
organisational field trips to substantiate their analysis
and innovations.
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Participants
are required to submit their reports for judging and grand
finalists will be selected to present their case during the
grand final.