Infosys Role and Career Enhancement: A People Strategy or Fall from Grace?
This case study describes the Infosys Role and Career Enhancement (iRace) initiative at Infosys Technologies Ltd. (Infosys). It brings out how the company went in for a major restructuring initiative and the repercussions it had on the perception among people of its being an employer of choice. The iRace initiative was meant to map positions with the skill level of an employee. However, it led to increasing amounts of employee activism, some of which was not favourable to Infosys.
Infosys had always been at the forefront of developing and implementing HR initiatives. However, iRace was different - it was conceived when there was an economic downturn and a need was felt to improve the technical competencies of the employees.
Infosys had always been at the forefront of developing and implementing HR initiatives. However, iRace was different - it was conceived when there was an economic downturn and a need was felt to improve the technical competencies of the employees.
However, the employees were used to the privileges under a high growth environment and the cuts and rationalization imposed as part of the iRace initiatives proved to be too difficult for some of the employees to understand. The discontent was expressed in terms of a rising attrition rate and badmouthing the company management on social media sites and forums. Eventually, the company had to formulate and impose a social media policy that defined interaction on social media and networking sites. Infosys also had to allocate space within the company intranet for dissatisfied employees to voice their opinion. Moreover, though the company continued with iRace, it decided that all subsequent policy changes would undergo a probation period. Infosys also decided to take back some of its experienced and capable staff through the 'green channel'.
Issues:
» Understand various issues and challenges related to career management.
» Understand the issues surrounding organizational restructuring programs.
» Bring out the importance of communication under periods of organizational change.
» Appreciate the critical role played by a company's leadership in formulating and executing a strategic vision.
» Understand the need to moderate content on social networking sites with adequate policies.
» Understand the need to have employee participation in setting performance appraisal systems/ organizational changes.
» Appreciate the role of grievance handling mechanisms in service-oriented industries.
» Understand the pressure exerted by industry environment and practices in making firms confirm to conventional approach.
» Understand the drawbacks in case a policy is applied with retrospective effect.
» Appreciate the importance of HR as a business partner in the competitive business environment.
» Understand the issues surrounding organizational restructuring programs.
» Bring out the importance of communication under periods of organizational change.
» Appreciate the critical role played by a company's leadership in formulating and executing a strategic vision.
» Understand the need to moderate content on social networking sites with adequate policies.
» Understand the need to have employee participation in setting performance appraisal systems/ organizational changes.
» Appreciate the role of grievance handling mechanisms in service-oriented industries.
» Understand the pressure exerted by industry environment and practices in making firms confirm to conventional approach.
» Understand the drawbacks in case a policy is applied with retrospective effect.
» Appreciate the importance of HR as a business partner in the competitive business environment.