On behalf of the institute and the executive council, I would like to invite you to our 1998 annual conference.
The conference reflects the requirements on different mindsets and competencies of HR professionals to address the changing needs of business amid economic downturn.
HR issues which are new to this part of the world have popped up lately at both the organisational and community level. It is both a good and a bad time for HR professionals.
This is the moment HR professionals can prove their value by contributing to the survival and continued success of organisations. Nevertheless, the value of the HR profession will only be recognised if we are able to respond to the evolving business needs and to manage HR issues from a totally different perspective.
As mentioned in my first message to members, published earlier in the IHRM Forum, there are expectations from the public and members of the institute in providing solutions to emerging, thorny labour-related problems, ranging from restructuring to unemployment.
My response is, while there is no elixir for the problems, it is important that as HR professionals we are able to understand our environment better, to interpret the ever-changing trends and to acquire the needed mindset and competencies under the current circumstances.