Christian Hirt, Renate Ortlieb, Julian Winterheller, Almina Bešić and Josef Scheff
Focusing on an international trainee- and internship programme, this paper aims to propose a new framework that links organisational strategies regarding ethnic diversity with…
Abstract
Purpose
Focusing on an international trainee- and internship programme, this paper aims to propose a new framework that links organisational strategies regarding ethnic diversity with career competencies of the programme participants.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper adopts a case study design. It examines the interplay of the perspectives of the organisation, which is an Austrian bank, and of the programme participants, who are university graduates from South-Eastern Europe. It draws on the typology of diversity strategies by Ortlieb and Sieben (2013) and the categorisation of individual career competencies by DeFillippi and Arthur (1994).
Findings
The bank benefits from the programme participants’ competencies with regard to South-Eastern Europe and increased legitimacy gained from the public. Programme participants acquire many knowing-how, knowing-why and knowing-whom competencies, especially if the bank pursues a so-called learning strategy towards ethnic diversity. On the other hand, individual knowing-how competency supports an organisation’s antidiscrimination strategy, whereas knowing-why and knowing-whom competencies benefit the organisational learning strategy.
Research limitations/implications
Although the paper builds on a single case study and the ability to generalise is limited, the findings imply that future human resource development concepts should jointly consider the perspectives of both organisations and individuals.
Practical implications
Owing to their high strategic relevance, organisations should look into the competencies of skilled migrants and evaluate the critical resources they offer. Both organisational learning and an organisation’s strategic development are key concerns. The proposed framework helps to effectively design trainee- and internship programmes and simultaneously anticipate organisational and individual consequences thereof at an early stage.
Originality/value
The proposed framework concerning the interplay between organisational and individual perspectives as well as the regional focus on South-Eastern Europe present novelties.
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Norbert Kailer and Josef Scheff
Based on a representative study covering SMEs, providers of training and consulting and research institutions in Austria, the co‐operation process between SMEs and external…
Abstract
Based on a representative study covering SMEs, providers of training and consulting and research institutions in Austria, the co‐operation process between SMEs and external providers of know‐how is discussed. A lack of market transparency, problems in the search phase, a lack of co‐operation targets and evaluation criteria as well as deficits in the co‐operation during the transfer phase lead to a considerable number of SMEs which are disappointed with the co‐operation. This problem can be met by the development of new forms of co‐operation, i.e. integrated training and consulting programmes, process consultation of in‐house development projects and the support of and process consultation of co‐operations between SMEs. In this context, new learning technologies can be used to foster co‐operative learning and networking.
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Otto Petrovic, Norbert Kailer, Josef Scheff and Doug Vogel
Owing to shorter innovation cycles, increasing competitive pressure and the need for more flexibility in an uncertain business environment, we need more efficiency and…
Abstract
Owing to shorter innovation cycles, increasing competitive pressure and the need for more flexibility in an uncertain business environment, we need more efficiency and effectiveness in education and training. Computers provide an added degree of freedom that can be used both within and external to traditional classroom environments and can be coupled with new as well as “tried and true” structures and techniques. This paper presents results of a survey of Austrian and German enterprises and universities as part of an extended research program.