Circle K Convenience Stores (HK) won top honours at the HKIHRM/SCMP People Management Awards 2009 held yesterday at the Harbour Grand Hong Kong. First runner-up was Ngong Ping 360 and second runner-up was Toys LiFung (Asia).
"By implementing various human resources [HR] management initiatives, the winning companies have developed and adopted a fully integrated approach to corporate sales culture," says Wilfred Wong, president of the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management (HKIHRM) and one of the judges of the competition.
With a clear vision, the firms succeeded in unifying divisions so that they all work towards a common goal - the enhancement of a sales culture and business performance, adds Wong, who is director of the division talent management at DFS Hong Kong.
Another judge Aaron Yim, who is the managing director of Ricoh Hong Kong, says the companies excel in forging the direct link between their business objectives and the HR management and development programmes.
"These initiatives are effective in helping the individual companies achieve the desired business results," he says.
The top management of these companies have recognised the growing importance of HR management to overall business results, which represents a change in their attitude.
"In the past, many considered HR policies concerned staff benefits and workplace conditions mainly," Yim adds. An emerging trend has been identified from the winners' projects. "Innovation and creativity in HR management programmes are becoming more important because many staff are of the 'Generation Y'. They are very young," says Lau
Ka-shi, managing director and chief executive at Bank Consortium Trust. "It is a big challenge for HR practitioners to motivate these young employees effectively."
Jan Chan, assistant editor of Classified Post and one of the judges, says: "I was really impressed with the presentations given by the finalists. "A lot of effort went into the presentations and some were structured in the same manner as an orientation session for new recruits."
The fourth annual awards are co-organised by the institute and the South China Morning Post.
Final-round judges
Margaret Cheng Head - corporate human resources, Towngas
K T Lai Immediate past president, HKIHRM
Eddie Ng Executive council member and past president (1993-1998), HKIHRM
Wilfred Wong President, HKIHRM
Lau Ka-shi Managing director and CEO, Bank Consortium Trust
Aaron Yim Managing director, Ricoh Hong Kong
Jan Chan Assistant editor, Classified Post
