Towers Perrin to Engage Executives On Importance of People Issues
4 August 1999
Towers Perrin Experts to Engage Auto Industry Executives On Importance of People Issues During Major Auto Industry Conference
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.--Aug. 4, 1999--Employees as Investors of Their Ability and Time
As the auto industry looks at what organizations must do to be competitive in the year 2000 and beyond, Towers Perrin, one of the world's largest management and benefits consulting firms, will be focusing their attention on the importance of people in one of the truly global and intensely competitive industries in the world.
This and other critical issues will be examined at the Management Briefing Seminar conference for the auto industry being held August 2 - 6, 1999 at the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City, Michigan. The conference is presented by the Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation (OSAT) of the University of Michigan.
"This industry has focused and been very successful at creating change and making progress in the manufacturing, technology, cost management and process sides of the business. Now, they need to pay attention to the people issues, an area where the auto industry can gain competitive advantage. Success in the future is increasingly becoming more dependent on people and the skills they bring to the organizations in this industry," said Mike Ponicall, Towers Perrin Managing Director of the U. S. Central region.
This conference, which is attended by senior representatives from most of the major manufacturers and suppliers in the automotive industry, will present a series of speakers and workshops examining the issues this industry faces on a global basis. In the area of human resources, Towers Perrin will be presenting perspectives on how this industry will need to create the competencies and skills needed, as well as the infrastructure and systems support necessary, to manage a global workforce that is multilingual and multicultural. It will be increasingly important for organizations in this industry to create a world class standard of skills that can supply operations anywhere in the world.
Tom Davenport, author of the recently published book Human Capital and a senior consultant on human resource strategy and organizational effectiveness, will address the conference on the change in the traditional relationship between employer and employee and the impact of this change on the auto industry.
"Companies often refer to their employees as assets," says Davenport, "But this is an outdated and often incorrect term. Today's workers are more like free-agent owners of investable capital. Their capital is the ability, behavior, effort and time they contribute to a company. And much like other investors, they expect a healthy return on their investment. The investment return they expect takes the form of engaging work, fair compensation, rapid skill acquisition and an appealing work environment.
"Managers must view workers as human capital owners willing, under the right circumstances, to contribute to an organization's prosperity. From this perspective, one concludes that workers produce the greatest value for companies when companies generate the greatest value for workers," adds Davenport.
These issues are especially relevant in the auto industry where reduced product life cycles, reductions in central office staff, web site marketing, and speed and agility are becoming the norm.
During the course of the conference, Towers Perrin will be presenting key human resource issues as a focal point for discussion in the firm's exhibit booth. Each day of the conference, beginning on Monday, August 2 and running through Friday, August 6, experts from Towers Perrin will engage the conference attendees in discussion on the people issues as they apply to the auto industry. The schedule is as follows:
| - | Monday, August 2: Is HR Really a Business Partner? On this topic, the firm's experts will underscore the important role Human Resources can play in the success of an organization, including transforming job holders into owners and the role communication plays in shaping employee perceptions. |
| - | Tuesday, August 3: When is an Employee Not an Employee? Conference attendees can learn what an Online HR Center can do for a company. The firm's experts will demonstrate how these centers can help a company save money and improve service quality as well as tailoring these centers to a company's specific needs. |
| - | Wednesday, August 4: Are Your Company's Human Resource Programs Keeping Their Value Proposition? In this discussion, Towers Perrin experts will examine whether a company's HR programs represent the best allocation of the company's investment. Has a company analyzed its' HR programs and their impact on retention? Recent surveys from Towers Perrin show distinct differences between the expectations of younger workers (aged 18 - 39) and older workers (aged 50 and older). Whereas younger workers place greater emphasis on recognition programs, learning and development opportunities and work/life programs , older employees emphasize base pay, pension plans, health care and a savings plan. |
| - | Thursday, August 5: Is Product Liability a Threat to Your Competitive Advantage? In today's highly competitive market, it is imperative for companies in the auto industry to accurately assess their warranty and product liability costs. Accurately estimating prior costs is important to assess future business plans and product lines, as well as to protect future operating profits from changing estimates of prior obligations. Exposure from past years, especially product liability, continues to plague many companies. The booth will feature a chart that highlights the dollar amounts of the ten largest product liability verdicts. |
| - | Friday, August 6: This day will repeat the program from Wednesday, August 6. |
All of these program days will be conducted from the Towers Perrin exhibit (exhibit space A) during the conference being held at the Grand Traverse resort, Traverse City, Michigan.
Towers Perrin is one of the world's largest management and human resource consulting firms. It help organizations improve performance and manage their investment in people, advising them on human resource strategy and management, organizational effectiveness, compensation, benefits and communication. The firm has more than 8,300 employees and 78 offices in 71 cities worldwide.