HR Corner Young managers learning to fly high by Susanna Tai Airline's trainee programme is geared towards continuing success Almost all major organisations have experienced dramatic changes over the last decade, while coming to terms with new technology and the need to compete intensely to maintain their place in a global market. They have realised that sustained success depends on getting the most out of their employees, and that has had a significant impact on HR practices and corporate training programmes. In the current business environment, good HR management can provide a real competitive advantage. It will also help to determine how well a company fares in the medium to long term, since recruitment, retention and training policies do so much to shape an organsation's ongoing performance. In view of this, Dragonair has a management trainee programme to meet future demand for experienced executives. "We are committed to providing the highest levels of service. Talented individuals are one of the keys to achieving this," says Christine Chan, the airline's general manager for personnel. She adds that the HR and senior management teams have made a commitment to designing and implementing programmes which allow employees to reach their full potential. This is seen as the way to build a high-performing organisation, which will be consistently successful in a dynamic and fast changing industry. We are committed to providing the highest levels of service Head start Dragonair uses Hong Kong as the hub for passenger and all-cargo services and is widely recognised for the quality for its China services. The passenger network currently covers 32 destinations in Asia, including 23 mainland cities, and the company operates over 500 flights a week. Ms Chan explains that the management trainee programme was introduced in 1989 and lasts four years. "Successful candidates have a comprehensive range of instruction and participate in an attachment programme in the first six months," she says. The programme combines a series of courses, extensive on-the-job training, coaching, and exposure to operational and management responsibilities in different departments. The aim is to balance theoretical learning with practical experience, so that recruits can acquire real expertise by putting their classroom knowledge to immediate use. Practical skills "The programme is enhanced by job placements around our network, which provide trainees with practical management experience overseas," Ms Chan says. Those who complete the programme can certainly look forward to promising careers with their next assignment likely to be a management role either in the company's Hong Kong headquarters or, once again, overseas. The number of trainees taken on each year varies depending on company needs and the quality of the candidates. Three were recruited this year from a total of approximately 2,200 applicants. They had to get through a stringent selection process which included written tests, a group discussion and a panel interview. The programme is designed to give trainees all the skills needed to fill management positions and to handle the necessary job responsibilities. To ensure everything remains up to date in terms of staff development and succession planning, the programme is reviewed on an occasional basis. Salient points - Recruitment, retention and training policies shape the organisation's ongoing performance - Management trainee programmes designed to meet future demand for executives - Programme combines a series of courses, on-the-job training, coaching, and exposure to operational and management responsibilities in different departments - Successful candidates receive comprehensive range of instructions, and participate in attachment programmes in the first six months of service - Ongoing training programmes allow employees to reach full potential Taken from Career Times 23 June 2006, p. A20 Your comments are welcome at [email protected]