The Business and Information Administration Department in the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences continues to pursue integrating practice into theory by engaging with industry partners.
Students and academics recently had the opportunity to engage with Sheremone Lottering, Regional People Partner at Shoprite Group of Companies. Lottering is a CPUT alumnus who completed his National Diploma and BTech degree in Human Resources Management (HRM) at CPUT and is currently studying towards a Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Human Resources Management at Stellenbosch University.
His guest lecture, The HR Value Chain: An essential component for adding value to HR, aligned to the content of the curriculum in subjects across the levels of study, and highlighted the pivotal role of Human Resources and the impact upon each aspect in the Value Chain.
Lottering further advised that, as the Regional People Partner, he gives input to all functional business and People related strategic requirements which is key to the day-to-day operational excellence of their business operations. His role also requires that he drives the tactical and routine people service delivery aspects in their business areas and that he takes operational accountability for the overall performance and productivity in the organisation.
Lottering stated: “Businesses cannot only be operations focused, they also have to be people centred.” He further stated that “It is essential that the correct people are employed in organisations with the necessary skills”. He expanded upon business strategies as it related to Checkers Sixty60 and the role of data analytics to achieve overall success.
Lottering quoted the philosophy of many great leaders “If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it”, and expanded upon the requisite audits which are required to ensure that the objectives of the organisation is achieved, and the importance of the financial resources, and the impact on the bottom line. He provided the audience with a relevant case study at the organisation and integrated into each level in the Value Chain.
He also highlighted that morals, ethics, values and fairness is integral to the success of any organisation, and contributes to the culture of the organisation.
Tyrees Jantjies and Kay-Cee Appollis, both Advanced Diploma students, provided positive feedback and indicated that the guest lecture enhanced their understanding as to the relevance of the Value Chain and the application to the various activities in the organisation.
Mandie Richards, senior lecturer and transformation chairperson in the Faculty of Business and Management, emphasised that pedagogy needs to be responsive to industry needs, and thus opportunities are provided for student to experience engagement with experts from industry.
Richards said the lecture elicited challenging questions from the students and staff, as pertains to the retail store and were provided with firsthand information by Lottering as to strategies currently in place at the Shoprite Group to address the situation. She further advised that Lottering’s guest lecture provided valuable insights and that information shared as pertains to strategy at the organisation, most times cannot be found in a textbook.
Written by CPUT News
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