New Dynamism in Management Development:

Rising expectations of young professionals

Dr. K. Kuhathasan, CEO, Cenlead

There is a growing awareness among today's young professionals on the need to continue to develop and maintain their professional competence throughout their work life.

Because of the current knowledge explosion and rapid rate of technological change, they have to spend more time in maintaining and enhancing their professional competence, or they will face the threat of obsolescence. In addition, increased competition has forced them to undertake research and development activities.

Maintenance of professional competence is a challenge. For professionals, keeping up to date means making use of theories, points of view, techniques, and practices that are in the forefront of their field and allied or adjacent fields.

It means being familiar with the problems of other professionals in the same field. Professionals who are up to date can use recently developed techniques to solve assigned problems. They do not overlook significant facts or implications arising from the work, they know how to translate theory into practice.

Competitive edge

Keeping up to date takes a systematic approach, not just the occasional reading of a journal or book. It requires both individual motivation and stimulation from the work environment.

A few years ago, individuals themselves were held responsible for keeping current in their profession. Today, under the stress of competition, they are expecting their organisations to take initiatives in this direction.

Young professionals provide an organisations with a competitive edge. The Japanese have learned the importance of this lesson. Japanese companies ensure that all employees receive the best training, and they also invest heavily in research and development to assure a constant stream of technological innovations.

Knowledge is a driving force on both the national and international scene. Continually acquiring new knowledge, and applying it, are vital if we are to maintain strategic leadership in global competition.

Communication and collaboration

Today's professional also wants an organisational environment that facilitates open communication.

Open communication and exchange with management not only helps professionals clarify the goals and requirements of particular work assignments, but also involves them in institutional planning and governance.

Autonomy in one's work becomes increasingly important to midcareer professionals. Open exchange with management and the involvement of professionals in institutional decisional making fosters a sense of control and autonomy.

An open flow of information and communication among professionals and with management is also useful in maintaining accurate and realistic expectations and beliefs about management's perspective on work responsibilities and the outcomes for competent performance.

Organisational flexibility

According to expectancy theory, motivation to maintain competence is a function of the professional's expectations and beliefs about the process.

The organisational structure and management policies must be flexible enough to permit reassignment of people and work responsibilities. Flexibility maximises the utilisation of current professional competence and promotes the development of further professional skills through new and challenging work assignments.

Challenging work assignments

There is consensus that the most powerful incentives for maintaining professional competence are intrinsic-tied directly to the work itself-rather than involving external rewards, such as money.

Challenging work assignments have been found to be the strongest motivators that the work environment can offer for maintaining professional competence.

Unlike the professionals of the past, the young professionals of today are expecting a more positive and practical role by their management.

The expectations of the professionals of today extend far beyond the traditional needs.

Better working conditions.

Increased job satisfaction.

Cordial Interpersonal relationship.

Unique status.

Opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities.

Job recognition.

A higher degree of participation and responsibility.

Today's professionals want job advancement directly related to their qualifications. They have high job expectations that their jobs should utilise their varied skills and abilities. They want opportunities to continue their learning process specially designed to advance their career prospects.

They want their jobs redesigned, enlarged and modified for a motivating performance. They like to work in an environment in which they will be able to exercise initiative, ingenuity and self-direction.

There is an increasing awareness among professionals that their career development and promotional prospects are the fundamental responsibility of the management.

Changing culture

All these new concepts which centres around greater professionalism gives way to the changing management culture. Todays professionals want intellectual involvement which demands:

Initiative.

Curiosity.

Observation.

Alertness.

Experimentation, and problem solving.

Young professionals have different ideas, different attitudes and different value systems. Their expectations includes personal enrichment such as achievement, enjoy prestige, gaining esteem of others and to affiliate with others on an equal footing.

Management in Sri Lanka has to realise the hard fact that there has been a tremendous shift in the attitude of the young professionals.

There has been a tremendous upsurge of individualism. They want to work in an environment in which they feel that they will be able to establish their identity.