SIEMENS BUILDS A STRATEGY ORIENTED HR SYSTEM

Until recently Siemens is a $150$ year old German company, but it$$s not the company it was even a few years ago., Siemens focused on producing electrical products. Today the firm has diversified into software, engineering and services. It is also Global, with more than $400,000$ employees working in $190$ countries. In other words, Siemens became a world leader by pursuing a corporate strategy that emphasized diversifying into high$-$ tech products and services, and doing so on a global basis.

With a corporate strategy like that, human resource management plays a big role at Siemens. Sophisticated engineering and services require more focus on employee selection, training and compensation than an average firm and globalization requires delivering these services globally. Siemens sums up the basic themes of its HR strategy in several points. These include:

$1.$ A living company is a learning company. The high $$ tech nature of Siemens$$ business means that employees must be able to learn on a continuing basis. Siemens uses its system of combined classroom and hands $-$on apprenticeship training around the world to help facilitate this. It also offers employees extensive continuing education and management development.

$2.$ Global teamwork is the key to developing and using all the potential of the firm$$s human resources. Because it is so important for employees through out Siemens to feel free to work together and interact, employees have to understand the whole Siemens process not just bits and pieces. To support this, Siemens provides extensive training and development. It also ensures that all employees feel they are part of a strong, unifying corporate identity. For example, HR uses cross $$ border, cross cultural experiences as prerequisites for career advances.

$3.$ A climate of mutual respect is the basis of all relationships within the company and with society. Siemens contends that the wealth of nationalities, cultures, languages and outlooks represented by its employees is one of its most valuable assets. It therefore engages in numerous HR activities aimed at building openness, transparency, fairness and supporting diversity.

QUESTIONS

$1.$ Based on this case outline the required workforce competencies, skills and behaviors that Siemens staff needs to have in order to achieve their organizational strategic goals.

$2.$ Discuss the strategically relevant HR policies and strategies that Siemens needs to put in place in order to achieve the required staff competencies, skills and their strategic goals.