The client was a Japanese IT group with more than 170,000 employees worldwide. The company focuses globally on both IT services and IT infrastructure. In the European market, the hardware market in particular is under enormous competitive pressure. During the financial crisis, the company had significantly reduced its personnel development budget due to cost pressure and was only able to devote little attention to personnel management. The HR Interim Manager was commissioned to reorganize HR development in CEMEAI (Continental Europe, Middle East, Africa, India; approx. 13,000 employees). One of the particular focal points was to address the pent-up demand for development programs for junior managers, including a regional high potential program. The growing dissatisfaction among employees and the tightening labor market called for swift action.
The situation analysis revealed that previous programs for up-and-coming managers in the individual countries of the region had been carried out inconsistently, exclusively by external service providers and without management involvement in terms of content. The goal was therefore not only a quick solution, but also a fundamental change in the understanding of leadership development as a management task.
Establishing leadership development as a management task
Four months after the start of the project, a multi-stage program was implemented for the approximately 100 selected junior managers, which started with classic diagnostic elements such as 360-degree feedback and close involvement of line managers. Other important elements included events lasting several days at various locations (Madrid, Dubai, Munich), which were largely co-designed by members of the top management team. The highlight was a central event with all participants and the involvement of the entire Management Board as part of simulation games, large group work (open space) and a direct exchange with the junior managers.
The result was a new anchoring of management development as a management task for the Group. This is also the platform to ensure that key positions are filled by young talent and to retain them in the company.
