 Woo MEN for WILLS, WOMEN for SKILLS
Woo men for wills, women for skills
10 Mar, 2008, 0356 hrs IST, TNN
BANGALORE: Women professionals feel better equipped than their male counterparts in a variety of skills such as technology adoption, inclusion and diversity and social responsibility in a skills readiness index, reveals a global research by Accenture.
Where they lag behind their male counterparts is in agility, a parameter defined as willingness to relocate to another country, role versatility and stretching beyond comfort zone, according to the research on working women, One Step Ahead of 2011.
The findings reveal that only 43% of women and 47% men feel they were currently equipped to take on challenges of the global world of the future.
However, what is significant is that women employees in emerging markets such as India (70%), China (68%) and Brazil (58%) felt better equipped to succeed in 2011 compared to their counterparts in the developed nations.
In fact, India’s overall skills readiness index of 4 on a scale of 5 places it in the ‘very ready’ zone along with China (4) and Brazil (4.1), while the UK, France and the Netherlands are in the ‘improvement opportunity’ zone. The study says India’s technology and outsourcing boom has given it a competitive advantage.
“Talent management has become a global issue and senior business leaders have placed it right at the top of their agenda,” Accenture India executive vice-president Rekha Menon said. These findings would help companies redefine policies on talent management and retention. “Our research results are a call to action to embrace and further develop the role of women in business,” she added.
Accenture surveyed 4,100 business professionals from medium to large organisations across 17 countries for this study. The research focused on six skill sets required to succeed in 2011 and also a skills readiness index based on the perception of respondents.
In India, nearly 70% of the professionals—higher than any other country—felt they were equipped to succeed in the global world.
Just like their global counterparts, Indian women were far less likely than men to consider relocating to another country. Globally, one in four women (22%) cited the need to devote energy to their children and families as a top factor hindering their careers compared with 14% men.
According to the findings, technology adaptation is perceived as the top skill for 2011 and a critical factor in career success. Technology is being viewed as an option to on-the-ground contacts, building global business relationships and social networks. Technology adaptation (with a 4.2 score) is where employees feel most ready, as per the index.
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Hari Nair
Assistant Vice President - Human Resources
Sona Koyo Steering Systems Limited
38/6, On Delhi Jaipur National Highway 8
GURGAON 122 001
Haryana
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