Corporate concerns....

Effecting change in every corporate function is a constant endeavor in modern times, managerially speaking.... (I'd like to say that in the manner of Jim Carrey's famous take on 'metaphorically speaking' in the blockbuster movie "The Mask"). After all, change is the only thing that is constant, we are told!

However, it hits you to see some of these true-blue managers becoming smart-alecs that try to stonewall the very change their department seeks to effect. More, perhaps, to keep secure their comfy cushy jobs, which might run a risk of getting redundant once the changes are effectively practised!

Image is something that every corporate entity - big or small - tries to carefully nourish and project as one different from the crowd. In pursuit of this, corporates try out different permutations and combinations of variable changes that appear customer/employee 'friendly'. They even have specialized functional managers/departments to deal with innovative ideas. Therefore, you have an 'employee relations' as distinct from the HR, or a 'customer service' as distinct from sales. As long as these are actually vibrant, they serve their purpose. However, there are times when one feels that one would not miss these departments even if they ceased to exist.

Employee Relations (as a fictional example - could be the story of any corporate) is a great department provided they really live up to their name. There are occasions where this department is a glamorous face to impress new inductees; a great way to create ornamental functionaries of an otherwise dispensable band of employees, but who have the clout (and cheek!) to hang around! So you have an assistant manager, a manager, and an assistant vice-president independently (wo)manning this department. While you do see the lower rung working their skins off to ensure that every employee query or concern that comes their way receives a positive response, it is usually the self-important top notch guys that are actually living off the skim of their subordinates' labor. And these top guys also get to jet around the various facilities to 'drop by' and 'see' if the employees are indeed getting all the requisite response from the ER department. But try putting forward a concern or two to these guys, and they suddenly remember that 'actually your point of contact is Ms.....' and I am so important that I can be contacted only if need be. In other words, I know nothing, and it is actually Ms..... that will go through all the grind and sweat to see that your concern is positively addressed. I am here to well..ahem..'know' if you still had any concerns in spite of Ms....!

We shall look at some more of other such departments in the future....