Skills development has been acknowledged as one of the most important elements to drive economic growth in South Africa. Without it, the workforce cannot move forward. Yet, no matter how much is spent on the development of skills, it is not worth much if the results are not captured through measuring it’s effect – more commonly referred to as assessment. […]
EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT TRAINING; IS SOUTH AFRICA GETTING IT RIGHT?
Various business schools, universities, and other educational institutions offer a wide variety of management courses; but are these training programmes adequately preparing managers for the professional market? Management training should encompass soft and technical skills, while building characteristics that encourage effective management and functional teams. How can this be achieved? Many people in a management position cannot further advance in […]
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2 min read
HARNESSING THE POWER OF MENTORSHIP
According to Steven Spielberg, “The delicate balance of mentoring someone is not creating them in your own image, but giving them the opportunity to create themselves”. While this is the ideal outcome, in many instances this relationship is misunderstood, leading to an inappropriate or detrimental conclusion. Mentoring should be a positive process that focusses on strengths and passion. What then […]
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3 min read
WHY CONSULTANTS ARE GOOD FOR BUSINESS
The latest South African economics news indicates unemployment at an incredibly high 26.4 percent. With these levels of unemployment on the rise, and the damaging effect that loadshedding and other price hikes are having on businesses in all industries, the effective management and operational running of organisations are crucial to success. Time is money. For this reason, time is the […]
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2 min read
CAREER PROFILING FOR GUIDANCE AND GROWTH
Career Profiling is an effective tool in the development of staff, career development of individuals and the overall talent management of an organisation. For career profiling to be effective, the first step should, however, always be a gap analysis. This is essential in creating a profile that showcases the skills and attributes that a candidate already has, while indicating possible […]
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4 min read
DO PROFESSIONAL BODIES DRIVE PROFESSIONALISM?
The Business Dictionary defines a ‘professional body’ as a; “Trade association ofan organised profession that certifies successful completion of its requirements, andthereupon awards a license and bestows a recognised appellation (designation). Professionalbodies usually prescribe a discretionary or mandatory code of conduct for their members.”The question arises – do these associations add value for their members?Mark Orpen, Chief Executive Officer and […]
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1 min read
DO PROFESSIONAL BODIES DRIVE PROFESSIONALISM?
The Business Dictionary defines a ‘professional body’ as a; “Trade association ofan organised profession that certifies successful completion of its requirements, andthereupon awards a license and bestows a recognised appellation (designation). Professionalbodies usually prescribe a discretionary or mandatory code of conduct for their members.”The question arises – do these associations add value for their members?Mark Orpen, Chief Executive Officer and […]
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1 min read
DOES SKILLS DEVELOPMENT TRANSLATE INTO WORK READINESS?
PIVOTAL grant funding and the trend of most companies building graduate programme intotheir recruitment processes has increased awareness, but perhaps not understanding of orbuy-in to, work readiness. The critical skills lacking in today’s graduates costs South Africanbusiness dearly, and leads to frustration experienced both by the business and by the newemployee. The new employee often finds it difficult to fit […]
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2 min read
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS TO WORK READINESS
Skills development initiatives don’t mean much in the workplace if real work readiness is notachieved. If the skills taught cannot be implemented by the employee at work, if they amountonly to theoretical learning without practical application, will any return on investment beachieved?According to Gizelle McIntyre, Director at The Institute of People Development workreadiness programmes need to be well designed and […]
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3 min read
HOW TO ACHIEVE AND EVALUATE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT ROI
Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying; “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”Yet, in an economy where nothing is certain, many companies shy away from real knowledgebuilding, to avoid the perceived cost and the headache they assume determining return oninvestment (ROI) will be.However, putting the heart-warming stories of the advancement of staff and theimprovement of productivity aside, when it […]
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2 min read