In the fiercely competitive business arena, the acquisition and retention of skilled workers is paramount. The demand for skills, especially technical skills, and the need for job seekers to acquire practical experience, means that business relationships forged have to be effectively managed.
Experts in Human Resource development and management technology believe that building long term relationships with each employer and employee is becoming ever more critical.
This is because technology has advanced and created platforms for instant and cost-effective communication.
“The emphasis today is on maintaining steady relationships, nurturing networks and value-add to relationships in both the public and private sector,” says Teryl Schroenn, CEO of Accsys.
“At the heart of this is work/life balance, a desired objective that technology could help us to achieve. One only has to consider the advent of mobile technology and mobile applications that make mobile work a reality today.”
Accsys is a member of the Business Connexion Group (BCX) and national supplier of people management software and hardware solutions within the HR, payroll and time and attendance space.
Africa is widely acknowledged to have the second fastest growing mobile market globally and is home to seven of the ten fastest growing markets worldwide.
Schroenn says the advent of mobile technology and the influence of social media have significantly changed the workplace environment – as well as processes and procedures that govern professional relations.
Schroenn adds that it is important for managers to recognise these changes and adapt their approach accordingly. This means that, for example, should an employee decide to leave to pursue other interests, in the event this does not prove successful, there would be the opportunity for that person to return and rejoin their former workplace.
“Alliances and professional relationships forged in the workplace are usually strong and there is now more effort being made to ensure that bonds are not broken if there is a parting of ways. It often happens that former work colleagues network and actually end up reuniting in a sustainable working relationship,” adds Schroenn.