Modern work environment requires flexibility. For that matter Human Resource (HR) Practitioners in Ghana must work towards achieving inclusive working environment that promote open mindedness and honest behaviours. An agile work environment is the healthiest for organisations.
This was revealed by the Head of HR at MTN Ghana, Ms Amma Benneh Amponsah, at an HR Forum held in Accra on 13th February 2020..
Consequently, Ms Amma has called on HR practitioners in the country to strive for an agile work environment to bring the best out of their staff.
The event was organised by the KUSI Consulting, an HR and Marketing Consulting Firm.
Agile work environment
The world of work is changing with the rapid demand for an agile work environment. Such an environment is seen as an attractive model for employees.
For instance, a survey conducted by the Jobsite in 2017 found that there are employees who are willing to sacrifice a percentage of their annual salary just for an opportunity to be allowed to work freely.
Additionally, 86% of the respondents said they do not even mind changing jobs just to experience such work flexibility..
Some of the benefits of this work model include increase in productivity, efficiency and team work, just to mention a few.
Disrupt bureaucracies
However, speaking on the topic “Developing an Agile Culture and Workforce” at the second edition of the “HR Professionals Brunch”, Ms Amma said there is a difference between “doing agile and being agile”.
In terms if “being agile”, she explained that it required disrupting the status quo to pave way for flexibility.
“You cannot talk agile when you yourself you are bureaucratic in your way of working. You cannot talk agile when employees have to fill ten forms to get approval”, she stated
Again, she added that “you cannot talk agile when they basically have to beg when they come to your office to have something that is of benefit to them”.
In line with this, she further took the participants through some of the innovations her employers had introduced to develop an agile work culture among the staff.
For instance, she mentioned the use of digital tools to decentralise training of their staff in the various MTN office across the country.
HR Forum
The forum offered HR Practitioners in Ghana an opportunity to meet and discuss the challenges, opportunities and the way forward for the profession as well as how best to improve employee relationship in firms.
Held on the theme “Strategic Workforce Transformation”, the event attracted senior HR practitioners from different institutions across the various sectors of the economy.
More importantly, the forum presented the participants a unique platform to network and learn from one another at the AH Hotel at East Legon.
The Managing Director of the KUSI Consulting, Ms Rita Kusi, explained that the event was birthed to bring HR Practitioners from different areas of economy under one roof to connect and build meaningful relationships among themselves.
“This is just for each of us to grow and learn from each other’s expertise and knowledge”, she stated.
