I find the international program at Colgate Palmolive to be quite interesting. The idea of needed to spend several years overseas to continue the climb into management is a great idea for the company. Colgate being a large multi-national firm needs its top management to be exposed to different cultures and countries in which the company works and sales products. The cultural knowledge can truly only come from working and living overseas.
The major strong point is that management will get see how business is conducted in different countries. It is possible that something could be learned from this experience and brought back to the other countries. Secondly, the international experience will help management see the big picture and to realize that what processes work in one country may not work in another.
The only weaknesses would be that it is possible that talent could be lost from the company because the managers do not want to work internationally. The international experience is the only way to move up in the company some people may start their careers with Colgate but move onto other companies for higher positions in management.
I believe that CP is doing enough for dual career families. CP is adjusting pay for employee and helping spouses find a job or start a business. If a family cannot cope with the international assignments than the employee should find a new company to work for.
MNC's should consider the quality of person that are sending overseas and what the person can learn from the experience. Will this person become a better manager because he worked internationally or not.
Joey
I totally agree with Joey for the building the careers in CP but i think that this strategy is not applicable in every economic/business cycle because it comes pretty expensive. It is nice that the company realized that main reason and problem is the joblesness of the spouses but i think that CP didnt really found a solution to it simply by raising a fund. I think that for this not so long period the spouses can higher their qualifications because every other work wont be satisfactory and for sure wont be highly specialized.
ReplyDeleteIasen
Joey said:
ReplyDeleteI disagree with your statement that it is not viable in every business cycle. CP sales products that are recession proof, so the economic cycle should not matter. Plus, this training and placement would be an on-going concern of CP and stopping it for a downturn in the economy could cause more harm than good.
Thanks,
Joe
Hi Guys,
ReplyDeleteIn my view CP’s program is outdated and was good in the time period when it was introduced. In today’s global village there is no need to have such programs because a company can easily find managers in any region or country.
Fara