"Strategic Role of Employees" a discussion of M.Azim Ulfati

"Select a company that you believe uses its employees to achieve a competitive advantage. Discuss how the employees effectively execute the strategy and how the company can sustain this position over time."

The company in which I currently work is one of the USA contracting companies. Competition is an issue of service and product in our company. Well-trained employees are the key to our business success. They’re the cream of the crop, often having the strongest stake in the company’s future that the company can sustain it over time. 

I think there is a linkage between competitive strategy, Human Resource practices and performance. Also Human Resource practice results from different human resources existing within the organization. Human resources practices have a major impact on the employee’s performances.

The human resource practices the competitive advantage through employees. They ask the employees certain questions in order to find out what are the problems; challenges and barriers to their potential and what shall be done to motivate them and how do they execute the strategy.

These questions are asked weekly and some times bi-weekly as follows:

What is the nature of your job?

How is your performance being managed?

Are you happy with your current contract?

How is your contract negotiated and what influence has this on your performance?

What are the major factors in your performance?

Do you or your managers review your performance regularly? How?

How do you identify the weakness points in your performance?

What would you change to make your performance more effective and how? Why?

Do you think that Trust, Reward, Development, and Promotion leads to effective performance? How? 


The employees of the organizations have claimed the following points play the most important roles in improving their performance and long term loyalty which both lead to a great competitive advantage.

-High job security (if the jobs disappear through Economic, Technical, Social and Political changes then the employer will offer alternative employment or at least help the employee to find another one)

-High wages

-Good communication and strong respect for individuals.

-Personal development such as training, reward and social relationship.

-Performance reviewing and setting goals and objectives.

-Job description

-Good manager with a good qualification and vision.

Furthermore the company considers some of the other important strategic roles of employees as follows.

-High-performing and innovative employees

-Their productivity and exceptional capabilities.

-The importance of employee training the safety.

-Productivity and customer satisfaction within the company.

 -A corporate strategy and plan that builds commitment- a competitive business strategy and strategic plan for increasing the chances that an organization will be successful and success builds commitment. In addition, if the plan and the strategy are clear and well communicated, not only will your employees be more motivated, but also knowing the strategic direction will help them remain focused. Corporate values that are measured and rewarded can also align behavior and build commitment. (David)

- Understanding of the roles, purpose of the team clearly and having their clear operational goals for the missions.

-Effective rewards for driving performance- when monetary rewards are tied directly to performance and the metrics for each goal, you reinforce the message about what is important. Individual and team monetary rewards, coupled with non-monetary excitement factors, can play a major role in ensuring focus and consistent performance. (David)

-Team member support for increasing individual performance, effective communications and feedback for reducing errors and frustration. (David)

Reference:
David, C. (n.d.). Top 10 management on the strategic role of employee training overview and analysis read more: http://computersight.com/software/top-10-management-on-the-strategic-role-of-employee-training-overview-and-analysis/