IPM Sri Lanka and Holcim Lanka jointly conduct management program

Holcim Lanka’s Roshika Perera receiving the batch top award from Rohitha Amarapala with Prasad Piyadigama, Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri and Maliyadeva Ranasinghe looking on

IPM Sri Lanka – the nation’s leader in human resources management – jointly conducted a management program with Holcim (Lanka) Ltd. for the latter’s frontline management employees recently. Termed the ‘Front-line Management Programme’ (FLMP), the program focuses on front-line management leadership development imparting comprehensive knowledge and skills required for efficient and effective frontline management operations in the organisation. 

The program also focused on developing managerial attitudes and strategic thinking skill levels of the participants. 27 participants who completed the program were awarded certificates at the graduation ceremony held recently at the BMICH in Colombo. 

“This collaboration with a blue chip multinational showcases how IPM Sri Lanka continues to be in the forefront of customising and delivering superior human resources related training programs to corporate entities. It is also a typical example of how a professional body can engage with the industry to add much needed value to human capital,” said IPM Sri Lanka President Prof. Ajantha Dharmasiri.

People management skills and soft skills were trained through an experienced and competent resource person of IPM while the internal trainers of Holcim Lanka attached to the   Holcim Academy engaged with the participants to impart knowledge on business acumen and finance. Experienced human resources management consultant and fellow member of IPM Sri Lanka, G. Weerathunga functioned as the Course Coordinator who coordinated all aspects of the FLMP program including developing a customised curriculum to meet Holcim Lanka’s specific management development requirements. The program was conducted over a period of eight months. 

The FLMP program targeted frontline employees at Holcim Lanka regardless of their current operational or service function roles in order to prepare and groom them to take on responsible managerial roles in the future. The program is a practical development opportunity for new and emerging Holcim Lanka leaders, focusing on uplifting their capability to achieve expected business goals and objectives in a challenging work environment. It focused mainly on front-line leadership development and was a foundation platform for the participants who followed the program and imparted comprehensive knowledge and skills required of a front-line manager. 

It also developed the managerial attitudes, strategic thinking, skills development and other facts to operate within the front-line management, commented Shiran Perera – Training Manager of Holcim Academy and a past student of IPM who co-developed the program.

This graduation ceremony was held for the first batch of students. The partnership between IPM Sri Lanka and Holcim Lanka has strengthened the relationship between the two entities, by which they intend to train another batch. 

Evaluation of the participants in awarding the certificate was conducted by means of individual assignments, group case study presentation, final project submission followed by viva presentation and a written examination. 

IPM Sri Lanka keeps pace with the new trends and concepts in HR by engaging continuously with the business community to share experiences, thoughts and insights in order to enrich and enhance the HR profession. It actively encourages and promotes members’ participation at international conferences and fora to provide relevant exposure, build networks and conduct research into areas of interest to the HR profession in Sri Lanka. 

IPM was founded in 1959 and was subsequently incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1976. IPM is affiliated to the Asia Pacific Foundation of Human Resources Management and also to the World Federation of People Management Association. IPM, being a professional institute is also a constituent member of the Organisation of Professional Associations [OPA] Sri Lanka. Currently IPM comprises of over 1000 Professional Members who serve in both public and private organisations.         

Holcim Academy is a human resources directive by Holcim Lanka, the preferred supplier of cement in Sri Lanka. Having recognised the need for comprehensive training and creating value for its employees, Holcim Lanka has established a fully structured accreditation and certification system through the Holcim Academy which was established under the Holcim Lanka HR function to transform learning and development activities to the next level.