PR guru as he was called at the CIMA press brief personified Professor Dave Ulrich a genial yet unapproachable person who is scheduled to visit the Island 24th October, expressly to address CEOO and upper rung directorate of companies on importance of Human Resources.(HR). Irrespective of his limited stay, he would be in the Island just ten hours. Within that time frame he would address outstanding blue chip personnel on new direction and sustaining effects of intrinsic standing HR has brought to bear on progress of most commercial undertakings.

President CIMA Gowri Shanker, in her introductory address to the press this week said it was quite some effort to have literally inveigled Professor Ulrich to visit Sri Lanka and address an audience purportedly high level business people.

However Council Member Institute of Personnel Management, (IPM) C. Hewapattini said HR also meant the deep inference of ‘Hire and Fire’, which he said was current and in practice in most Companies. Using the cliché ‘Deliver or give notice’, he said HR was also inclusive that non performing employees should be shown the door. Simultaneously he also acknowledged that according to prevailing laws in this country, an inefficient employee could not be dismissed.

It was also effective that the whole concept of HR was totally negated if the threat of dismissal loomed large when an employee was recruited. Hewapatini’s explanation to allay doubt that HR as explained by him, was more a malefic influence was further cemented when his reasons were more confusing than illuminating.

Chairman CIMA Employer Relations Committee, Dinesh Weerakkody, said at time of recruitment it was incumbent on employers to recruit optimum material rather than have to show them the door at a later date. This he acknowledged could be counter productive.

CIMA Sri Lanka, and IPM Sri Lanka have unified their resources to realize visit of Professor Dave Ulrich has international clout to influence thinking on the subject of HR. His reputation that he is a leading authority on the subject underscores his international reputation and competence to share his knowledge. That too that he would visit Sri Lanka and contribute to the concepts of HR as it should be practiced.

President CIMA, Gowri Shanker, said CIMA was committed to drive organizations to world class talent management.