Human Resource Management Programme of Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi – along with AAXISSPERT had organized a National Webinar on “Managing Change through HR Interventions in Covid-19”. It was conducted on 19th September, 2020. The webinar was initiated by Prof. Dr. R.K. Agrawal, Head of Programme (HoP), Human Resource Management Programme, XISS who highlighted the USP of the PGDM (HRM) Programme and also drew our attention to the necessary HR Interventions required to tackle the “Work, Workforce and Workplace”. It was followed up by a Welcome Speech by Dr. (Fr.) Joseph Marianus Kujur SJ, Director, XISS who highlighted that during these times the Organisation is like an Organism, whose defence system is being attacked by COVID-19 and most of the onus is on the employers to take the necessary steps ahead.
The inaugural Session was moderated by Prof. S.R. Shauq, Former HoP, XISS. The Keynote address was initiated by Mr. Dwarkanath P, Non-Executive Chairman; Glaxo Smith Kline in which he emphasised that one should thrive to maintain a balance between both livelihood and life. It was followed up by Mr S.Y. Siddiqui, Executive Adviser, MSIL who harped on the best approach to tackle this situation to be able to adopt and adapt. The first session was concluded by Mr. Dhananjay Singh, DG –NHRDN who referred to being optimistic and making most of the challenges that lay ahead – as things would change for the best in the near future.
The first technical session on “Global Business Scenario & HR Challenges in COVID-19 Situations” was moderated by Dr GP Rao, Founder & Managing Partner of GPR HR Consulting. The chief panellists were Dr. Rajeshwar Tripathi (CHRO, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.), Mr. Karunesh Prasad (CEO Change et al, Singapore), Mr. Prabhash Nirbhay (Founder & Director, Flipcarbon), and Ms. Lipika Verma (Director, Schneider Electric). They expressed the view that the COVID is just a mirror, all the problems that have acquired the centre stage in the global mind-set now have been here since a long time. This pandemic has only given us a pause to reflect on them. We cannot ignore them anymore, because COVID has shown the world what we truly are, in clear and startling detail. In these trying times, balance might just prove to be the key to survival. We need to preserve what needs to be preserved, and we need to change what needs to be changed. We aren’t just surviving; we are creating history that is changing the course of the world as a whole. Change management has taken the central position at the workplace. Mr. Karunesh Prasad gave an impressive insight on dealing with this change, “When you’re running a viral fever, you shouldn’t check your biceps and muscles”. The survival strategy we need here is to adopt and adapt. What we have seen in the last few months is an indicative shape of the changes to come. We need to take care of our employees; a revival of the economy cannot be expected while cutting out the income source.
In the final technical session on “Future Role of HR for Transforming Business in Post COVID-19” moderated by Dr. Kumar Mohit Spring from XISS, where the panellists Mr. Debashish Chatterjee (VP, SPX Flow Inc.), Mr. Mussarat Hussain (Head Leadership & Functional School, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.), Mr. Sanjay Bose (Executive VP, ITC Hotels), and Dr. Kamakshi Raman (Director MTI, SAIL Ranchi) gave brilliant insights on what the future of HR looks like. The top concerns for HR professionals would be managing remote working and maintaining safety and well-being of the employees. There has been a distinct shift from profit to purpose. Times like these have been seen before. We have survived plagues and we have survived wars. Humans are a resilient lot. The motto “Survive, Revive, and Thrive” is the key for coping with these difficult times. One has to look into a lot of micromanagement and go Organisation specific in terms of dealing with the HR challenges. The concept of taking care of not only its employees but also the ecosystem surrounding the same was given due importance.
The concluding remarks was made by the organizer of the webinar Prof. Dr. Shyamal Gomes (coordinator), XISS – who felt that the Panel was very proactive in addressing the need of the hour and tried to tap into all aspects of the discussion of the house. A vote of thanks was delivered by Prof. Nidhi Shukla.