Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was one of the challenges faced at country level when trying to shift HR towards a more strategic role?
What was one of the challenges faced at country level when trying to shift HR towards a more strategic role?
- Excessive number of staff
- Strong presence of HR consultants
- Lack of technology resources
- Restructuring of the bank along global lines (correct)
Why did some HR officers feel that lack of a strategic approach was a strength?
Why did some HR officers feel that lack of a strategic approach was a strength?
- It demonstrated that they were adaptable to change
- It allowed them to work on their own agenda
- It indicated that they were not driven by business needs
- It showed they were driven by the business needs, not their own agenda (correct)
What was a reason for the HR department's difficulty in transitioning from a transactional role to a consulting role?
What was a reason for the HR department's difficulty in transitioning from a transactional role to a consulting role?
- Overemphasis on strategic planning
- Need for acquiring new skills (correct)
- Insufficient budget allocation
- Lack of understanding of HR policies
How did the Travelers merger impact the HR department by 2000?
How did the Travelers merger impact the HR department by 2000?
What was one reason given for the lack of implementation of major changes by some HR officers?
What was one reason given for the lack of implementation of major changes by some HR officers?
Why was it challenging for the HR department to manage a global organization after restructuring?
Why was it challenging for the HR department to manage a global organization after restructuring?
According to the comments, what was the general perception of HR within Citibank?
According to the comments, what was the general perception of HR within Citibank?
What impact did the merger seem to have on the HR function at Citibank?
What impact did the merger seem to have on the HR function at Citibank?
How did the 'Voice of the Employee' focus groups impact the HR representative?
How did the 'Voice of the Employee' focus groups impact the HR representative?
What approach did some senior HR members seem to be taking to regain strategic importance?
What approach did some senior HR members seem to be taking to regain strategic importance?
Based on the comments, which HR activity was viewed as particularly unimportant by employees?
Based on the comments, which HR activity was viewed as particularly unimportant by employees?
What can be inferred about the HR function's role prior to the merger?
What can be inferred about the HR function's role prior to the merger?
What was the purpose of the significant investment made in HR information systems?
What was the purpose of the significant investment made in HR information systems?
Which culture and management style began to dominate within the bank after the merger?
Which culture and management style began to dominate within the bank after the merger?
What was the state of initiatives that had been developed earlier after the merger?
What was the state of initiatives that had been developed earlier after the merger?
What was one of the weaknesses identified in the HR department post-merger?
What was one of the weaknesses identified in the HR department post-merger?
What was the perception of HR department members regarding planning and implementing an overarching HR strategy?
What was the perception of HR department members regarding planning and implementing an overarching HR strategy?
How did the downsizing of the HR department impact its ability to focus on strategic matters?
How did the downsizing of the HR department impact its ability to focus on strategic matters?
