The Middle East must develop its human resources (HR) if it's to compete on the world stage, or face irrelevance according to one of South Africa's leading human resource consultants.
“The Middle East, like South Africa, is a developing economy that has good infrastructure and enough resources to solve many of its problems,” said Managing Director of South Africa's Gateway Business Consultants, Ian Mann. “However, this region must catch up to the rest of the world in terms of HR management.
“There is no reason why underdeveloped countries cannot compete with developed ones economically in specific areas. The key is to find certain areas and become the best in the world at them, added Mann.”
Mann, who is to speak at the Human Resources International 2003 conference (HRI 2003), which will be held at the Jumeirah Beach Convention Center in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from March 1-3, believes the Middle East can greatly benefit from the South African experience.
“South Africa bears a greater resemblance to the Middle East than any other area I know. There is little that can be learned from the great economies of the world and even less from the undeveloped.”
According to Mann, the way the Middle East utilizes its people will impact upon its level of success making HR a key element. He says the way to leverage the most from this sector is to ensure HR strategy is aligned to an organization's overall business goals.
HRI 2003, which is being organised by Fairs & Exhibitions (F&E), will outline how to plan, execute and maintain comprehensive HR strategies and tactics. Designed specifically to address issues in a multi-cultural society, the program will draw upon regional and international case studies, highlighting the traps and pitfalls that have befallen others as well as the successes. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
