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The Impact of Politics on Human Resources Teams across Asia

Posted: 18.08.10

The Chapman Consulting Group today hosted an HR roundtable discussion for 15 select HR Heads. Regional HR leaders from high-profile multinationals in the Financial Services, Technology, Medical Devices, Professional Services, Shipping, Media, and Industrial sectors met over lunch at the Singapore Cricket Club to discuss the topic of "Equipping our Regional HR Teams to Better Deal With Politics". The discussion was led by Jane Horan, founder of The Horan Group, a strategic consulting practice specialising in teaching the rules of political awareness headquartered in Singapore.

There are often negative connotations to politics: if a company is seen as ‘political', it often denotes a company where power is based with the personalities who know how to ‘throw their weight around' or who can manipulate their personal connections to get their own way. This is indeed one definition of a ‘political' organisation. But by focussing on this negative interpretation of the word we ignore that fact that sometimes the best companies can also be ‘political' in a good way. So long as the politics are played in order to get the best business result for the company, rather than fulfil any one individual's personal agenda, then a ‘political' company can actually be a more successful way to run an organisation. After all, being successful in a corporate setting is best defined by being able to win support from your colleagues that allows you to effectively implement an successful business idea.

This is an excerpt. For the full press release, please download the PDF version below.