Simon Fraser University’s Faculty of Business Administration has established a new centre that will develop strategies and carry out research related to the changing needs of workforce management.
The Centre for Global Workforce Strategy was created in response to a growing need by companies to effectively manage workforce diversity. Ideally situated within the university’s collaborative and multidisciplinary research environment, the centre will draw from the expertise on global workforce management at SFU Business. The centre also has an extensive global network of individuals associated with ongoing research projects in the area.
“Leading companies have recognized that workforce diversity is not just a problem to be overcome but also a resource to be exploited to the benefit of the bottom line,” says centre director David Thomas. “This puts people into the competitive equation as never before.”
The competition for skilled people on a global scale is intense, and new attitudes toward work and careers present additional challenges about work-life balance, which further complicates the strategic management of today’s workforce, notes Thomas.
The centre’s research fellows span the globe and represent a wide range of specialties, including expertise in work-life balance, the development of cultural intelligence, comparative human resource management practices, managing expatriates, HR issues in mergers and acquisitions, and cross-cultural communications.
The centre’s activities will also include hosting public forums, workshops, and academic conferences, preparation and distribution of educational materials, media outreach and professional development programs.