Berger Strategy Consultants
3. Cooperations with existing companies
8.2 Students Deal with Personnel Matters
In the following the possibilities of a Junior Enterprise in the segment of their internal human resource management will be displayed:
Junior Enterprises are organized in non-profit associations, which means that they are basically open to any student who is interested and committed.
Nevertheless, a human resource planning is indispensable for an effective analysis of the labor-pool. To realize short-term, medium-term and long-term goals Junior Enterprises have to revert to a top-quality staff pool. Its composition relates to the requirements of the market as well as to the maintenance and the advancement of the association. Evidently, human resource planning is a central requirement, in order to carry out a selective human resource management.
8.2.1 Staff Marketing
Both, the fields of activities of the Junior Enterprises and the development potentialities of every associate, are visualized at informational events at participating universities, which take place continuously. The publicity of Junior Enterprises and the interest in cooperation is also brought forward through attendances at lectures. Interested students furthermore receive the crucial information through flyers, annual reports and individual field reports, which are meant to inspire them to work for a Junior Enterprise. Posters and reports in daily- and student papers also are viewed as effective advertising material. The most successful procedure to acquire new staff still lies in the word-of-mouth recommendation. Nothing furthers an efficient acquisition of new staff like the demonstration of individual career options through a person in charge.
8.2.2 Selection of Personnel
Even though the Junior Enterprises are open to every student, the economic orientation and the awareness of quality, which is an outcome of the mentioned orientation, make a well directed selection of new staff indispensable. To gain membership in a Junior Enterprise, every student has to pass through a regulated procedure of admission, which consists of three stages:
Visitor Aspirant Member
Fig. 8.1.Three Stages to Become a Member
After the first contact with the Junior Enterprise, the interested student is classified as a visitor and registered in the staff database. The visitor is also admitted to the mailing list, through which he constantly receives information about internal developments of the association and current projects. Once the visitor shows serious interest and commitment as well as a desire to be integrated into the association for a period of time, he is asked to file an application for
membership. From that moment on the visitor turns officially into an aspirant.
This stage is similar to a qualifying period and can last up to a year. Every aspirant has to fulfill a set program, which consists of various aspects: The aspirants have to prove their ability of working independently and their sense of responsibility.
Further on, they should participate in obligatory trainings and carry out at least one internal project.
At the end of the qualifying period there is an interview between the Executive Board of the Junior Enterprise and the aspirant. Here, he can point out his personal preferences and goals. Both sides get the opportunity to voice possible criticism.
Afterwards the aspirant gets the opportunity to present himself and his previous activities during a meeting in front of all members. The aspirant should receive feedback from the members within a two week period. Finally, the Board decides on the admission.
Associates get information about every project at the regular meetings and via e-mail. Thus each interested person has the chance to apply. The Board, then, will screen application on the basis of the following criteria:
x Experiences gained in previous project work, x professional knowledge,
x performance at the customer, x team spirit,
x prior commitment,
x status of the applicant (members are first choice).
In order to secure a continuous knowledge transfer, the Board pays particular attention to a well-balanced mixture between experienced consultants and interes- ted and motivated aspirants when determining the project team members. That way, new associates without deep professional knowledge will still participate in projects. Nevertheless, the compliance of internal quality standards has highest priority. Every candidate who would like to become Project Manager needs to be a member of the Junior Enterprise and has to dispose of appropriate practical expe- rience and soft skills.
At the kick-off-meeting, important issues like general documentation, work- flow-based project controlling processes, as well as the contractual and legal con- ditions are discussed. Along with team members, the Quality Manager and Executive Board for Finances participate in this meeting. During the whole pro- ject, relevant field reports of previous projects are at the team members’ disposal.
Furthermore, the team is in close contact with experienced, seniors as well as the Board and the Quality Manager.
8.2.3 Staff Commitment
The Junior Enterprise offers a range of different events in order to strengthen its bonds with the contributor and to increase team spirit. Since every contributor may leave the Junior Enterprise at any time, events like these are of great importance.
These events are varied nature: First of all there is the ‘Strategic Weekend’, at which all associates come together to define the strategic direction of the parti- cular financial year. These meetings ensure that associates are actively integrated into the conceptual development process. Solidarity between contributors of the Junior Enterprise is furthered through collective activities at the so called ‘Social Weekend’. In addition to this there are weekly meetings to inform everybody about latest developments.
Furthermore, regular staff dialogues play an important role in committing the staff to the Junior Enterprise. The long-term commitment of associates is intensi- fied through the continuous recapitulation of developing perspectives as well as constructive criticism.
8.2.4 Staff Development
The Junior Enterprise organizes a great number of training sessions in the course of every semester. The training program is prepared half a year in advance. Excep- tional about it is to be emphasized that most of the tutors are active members of the Junior Enterprise. Every training session is evaluated by means of a web-based evaluation sheet to guarantee a Continuous Improvement Process (CIP).
Staff dialogues are another method of developing personnel and can fulfill va- rious functions. Thanks to this classical management tool particular problems and suggestions for improvement as well as target agreements can be verbalized and reviewed.
A Junior Enterprise concentrates mainly on external and internal projects. For the advancement of cooperative and autonomous learning they are used systema- tically. Internal projects are a special feature of Junior Enterprises, which focus on the development of staff and also on internal organization. Documentation is handled as in external projects. It helps to familiarize associates with the general conditions of consulting projects and to prepare them for assignments in external projects.
An additional chance for individual development lies in the possibility of taking over a position in the Executive Board or the direction of a department. This work prepares students to assume responsibility and to make decisions in work life.
8.2.5 Leaving the Junior Enterprise
The past has shown that access to job life is easier for students with experiences in practice. It usually leads either to self-employment or an employment in a renowned company. Consequently, it is very important for Junior Enterprises to keep in contact with their former associates – the so called ‘Alumni’. Maintenance of Alumni relations has a social as well as an economic component: In many cases, close contact has lead to consulting projects and internships. Herewith an interior solidarity is maintained beyond the association membership.