“CIMA is developing the talent pipeline of future leaders”

Tuesday, 2 September 2014 01:40 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Dinesh Weerakkody, former Chairman Commercial Bank Ceylon and Chairman of HR Cornucopia, says that CIMA over the years has helped to develop young leaders with specialised knowledge to manage organisations effectively. Following are excerpts of an interview:

Q: As an HR Consultant you have witnessed, firsthand, the challenges and shortcomings in hiring and recruiting people with the right skill set and knowledge base. Therefore, what steps do you believe could bridge the gaps in the job market? In your opinion does CIMA help in diminishing these gaps? A: Yes, some employers say to me they have difficulty filling positions. Some of the complaints about skill shortages simply could be that employers can’t get top candidates to join their companies because they do not have a solid reputation as an employer of choice or the wages they

offer is not competitive. then that becomes essentially an attraction problem, not a skill shortage. A skill shortage to me would be when employers cannot find candidates at market-clearing wages. The solution lies in education. People should be trained in areas where jobs are plenty. There are probably many jobs that go elsewhere because people don’t have the expertise. Therefore, post-secondary education should become more affordable so that people have the opportunity to move into fields were skills are in high demand. There also needs to be a wave of innovation in future education, particularly online, that will cater to this need in a more flexible, personalised way than the traditional degree or postgraduate courses are now delivered. CIMA over the years has helped Sri Lanka to create a pool of world-class talent with good Organisational skills that are important for almost any job. Today the CIMA qualification in Sri Lanka continues to grow in reputation and influence. Q: You were the youngest Chairman at Commercial Bank. Did CIMA help you overcome the challenges you faced in your journey towards that success and thereafter? If so, how? A: Today’s leaders must be able to leverage a broad range of styles given the complexity of organisations and their people. They must be highly flexible – adapting and improvising given changing strategies, shifting cultures, and the explosion of technology. CIMA provides a clear roadmap for the development of the required skills, competencies, attitudes and perspectives. Once qualified the CIMA CPD interventions ensure that leadership skills and competencies developed at one level are built upon at a higher level. "A skill shortage to me would be when employers cannot find candidates at market-clearing wages. The solution lies in education. People should be trained in areas where jobs are plenty. There are probably many jobs that go elsewhere because people don’t have the expertise. Therefore, post-secondary education should become more affordable so that people have the opportunity to move into fields were skills are in high demand "Today’s leaders must be able to leverage a broad range of styles given the complexity of organisations and their people. They must be highly flexible – adapting and improvising given changing strategies, shifting cultures, and the explosion of technology. CIMA provides a clear roadmap for the development of the required skills, competencies, attitudes and perspectives. Once qualified the CIMA CPD interventions ensure that leadership skills and competencies developed at one level are built upon at a higher level" Q: Having worked with CIMA qualified subordinates and peers, have you witnessed a difference in their work ethic and operations? A: CIMA focuses on business, giving their graduates more than just the technical knowledge. Therefore when you recruit a CIMA graduate you are not hiring an employee who is only technically competent in finance, but also skilled in strategy, operational excellence and risk management. Q: CIMA will be upgrading its syllabus in 2015, to give students the opportunity to test their abilities in a stipulated business environment. It will also be a completely computer based course thereby helping students gain an understanding of the corporate environment, especially corporate communications. Do you believe this upgrade will be instrumental in converting our national abilities to global capabilities? A: The new syllabus will provide the skills and competencies that are required to stay current and relevant in a rapidly changing business world.