Creating opportunity from crisis: taking a strategic and learning‐focused perspective

Abstract

Purpose

The recession is forcing many businesses to downsize and in doing so they are losing valuable knowledge and skills. Arif Ahmed, co‐founder & director of ikonami, examines how organizations can maintain their knowledge base and still remain competitive during difficult times.

Design/methodology/approach

Approached positively, organizations can do more than passively survive this recession; they can re‐evaluate their operations, pinpoint where they deliver value, and identify the knowledge, skills and abilities required by the optimum number of people to deliver the vision.

Findings

HR needs to go back to basics, focusing on the fundamentals and moving to integrate learning into the broader management strategy. With money tight, decisions might need to be made as to whether to fund operational development to deliver immediate impact to the bottom line or longer‐term talent management programmes. The recession is a great opportunity for organizational learning – if employees can deliver business success now that bodes well for the future, but it is important to capture the learning and lessons. HR and L&D managers must demonstrate the contribution they can make and earn their place at the strategic planning table.

Originality/value

Approached positively, organizations can do more than passively survive this recession and prepare for the upturn; they can re‐evaluate their operations, pinpoint where they deliver value, and identify the knowledge, skills and abilities required by the optimum number of people to deliver the vision.

Citation

Ahmed, A. (2009), "Creating opportunity from crisis: taking a strategic and learning‐focused perspective", Development and Learning in Organizations, Vol. 23 No. 5, pp. 4-6. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777280910982906