Bhubaneswar: The three-day international conference on ‘ Organisational Metamorphosis for Innovation, Inclusion & Agility’, orgnised by Xavier School of Human Resource Management (XAHR), came to an end here on Wednesday.
On the opening day, Prof. Arup Varma (Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University, Chicago), conducted a pre-conference workshop on the theme, “Diversity and Inclusion: Bridging the Library – Boardroom Divide”. The second day of the HR Conference started with the keynote session which was graced by Dr. Fr. Paul Fernandes, S.J. (Vice Chancellor & Director, XUB), Dr. Snigdha Pattnaik (Dean, XAHR), Prof. Arup Varma and Prof. Sanket Sunand Dash (Assistant Professor, XAHR).
Prof. Varma in his keynote address stated how despite changes in the external environment, organizations cannot replace the HR function, as in the end, it is people management. Dr. BB Mohanty (HOD (retd.) PM&IR, Utkal University), Dr. Aquil Busrai (CEO, Aquil Busrai Consulting) and Dr. Tania S Rath(Assistant Professor, XAHR) discussed on the theme – ‘Inclusion’. The session was, moderated by Dr. GP Rao (Founder and Managing Partner, Good People Relations LLP).
The second session was addressed by Rajeev Bhadauria (Group Director HR, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd.)
wherein he shared that technological advancements change governance, climate, and geopolitical norms and
insisted on utilizing self-propelled inspiration as a replacement for motivation. Pradeep Dasan (VP & Head – Talent Acquisition and alentManagement, Nayara Energy Ltd.), Dr. GP Rao (Founder and Managing Partner, Good People Relations LLP)a and MalvikaNaik (Former GM – HR, IOCL) discussed the theme ‘Agility’, moderated by Prof. (Dr.) Arup RoyChaudhury (Assistant Professor, XAHR)
In the plenary session on the day3, Dr. Paul Hempel (Professor at City University of Hong Kong) commented at the appearance of the western models of innovation as being useful at the structural level,whereas considerable adaptation is required at the implementation practical level in non- western context.This was followed by Paper Presentations by research scholars and students of MBAHRM course. The next event was a panel discussion moderated by Prof. Girish Balasubramaniam wherein he asked the panel to elucidate on the models of innovation and how does innovation take place. SubhashiniAcharya, (Learning Leader – R&D India, Schneider Electric) gave her viewpoint on the need for leveragingdifferent resources and depending on others for innovation.
The Valedictory session began with Fr. E.A Augustine S.J (Registrar, XUB) addressing the audience on the need for organisations to bemore innovative, rather than being shaped by it. The chief guest, Praveena Kala (CGM, SBI) in her address suggested that“change is the only constant and only those organisations survive which learn to live with change”. Prof. Dr. Andrew Dutta also addressed the session.
