Newsletter
August 2004
Spotlight: HR Without Borders
Think you have it tough in the HR trenches? Then consider the case of Diane S. Bégin, an Ottawa-based consultant and associate of Flaman Management Partners Limited, who tests her mettle by working on projects in the developing world. In the second of a series of articles, Diane shares some of her experiences facilitating change in Kabul, Afghanistan....more
This Issue:
A Penny for Your Thoughts: Be a part of our change management research by filling out an online survey....more
Arbitration Primer: 12 rules for effective cross examinations....more
An Architect is Born: The IRC's newest program will help you deconstruct your organization, and build it back even better. ...more
Winners: We have the prizes that folks want to win....more
HR Without Borders: The latest installment in Diane Bégin's adventures in doing HR abroad....more |
 |
|
|
Upcoming Programs
All - Toronto- Regina - Halifax
Sept. 21 - 26, Kingston
Industrial Relations
| Register | Sept. 22 - 25, Kingston
Building Smart Teams
| Register | Sept. 23 - 26, Toronto
Change Management
| Register | Sept. 30 - Oct. 03, Regina
Dispute Resolution
| Register | Oct. 07, Toronto
Performance Management Essentials and Strategy
| Register | Oct. 07 - 08, Toronto
Compensation Clinics (Performance+Group Benefits Programs)
| Register | Oct. 08, Toronto
Employee Group Benefits
| Register | Oct. 15 - 17, Toronto
Business Strategy
| Register | Oct. 19 - 24, Kingston
Negotiation Skills
| Register | Oct. 21 - 24, Regina
Building Smart Teams
| Register |
|
A Penny for Your Change Thoughts
Queen's IRC has launched a research project relating to change management, and we're looking for subjects to complete a short online questionnaire on a change initiative in which they were closely involved.
Designed by Dr. Carol Beatty, the online survey examines the factors at play that determine successful, and unsuccessful, change initiatives. Besides helping Queen's IRC generate knowledge in the field, survey participants will also have their names entered in a draw to win a $250 voucher that may be used towards an IRC program of their choosing.
Are you up for the change challenge? Go to: http://www.industrialrelationscentre.com/change-management/
Visit our site in September to download a report on the survey's findings.
And by that you mean...? 12 rules for cross examination success
At this spring's Labour Arbitration Skills program, Kristin A. Eliot, a lawyer with Eliot, Smith Barristers and Solicitors, offered some timely advice on how to conduct cross examinations during an arbitration case. Whatever you do, don't try this at home.
1. Cut cross examination down to size
- Literally: be brief, focused, and purposeful
- Figuratively: do not be intimidated or place undue emphasis on cross examination
2. Prepare, prepare, prepare
- Know the facts and how they relate to your theory of the case
- Plan your questions
3. Every question should have a purpose
- Extract admissions
- Extract additional facts
- Qualify or modify a previous answer
- Corroborate favourable testimony
- Prior inconsistent statements
- Discredit witness
- Do not allow witnesses to repeat their direct evidence
4. Know the rules of evidence
- Admissibility
- Relevance
- Collateral fact rule
5. Ask simple questions
- Break it down, then break it down again
6. Ask leading questions
- Try to elicit yes or no answers
- Do not ask “what do you mean?”, “why do you say that?”, or “what happened?”
7. Be polite and professional
- It is far easier to discredit yourself than the witness
8. Listen carefully to the witness's responses and write them down
- If it was worth asking, it's worth recording the answer
- Review all cross examination before closing arguments
9. Slow down
- If the arbitrator didn't write it down, it isn't evidence
10. “Start safe and finish strong”
- Use the principle of retention to your advantage
11. Cross examination or argument?
- Always be mindful of the differences, and the links, between cross examination and closing argument
12. You will improve
- Take time to review your performance in each case and set goals for improvement
A program for the frustrated designer in you
This fall, we are pleased as punch to roll out the newest program in our OD series: Designing Organizations for OD Practitioners. This is a three-day offering leading to the Queen's Organization Development Master Certificate (or it may be taken even if you are not pursuing the certificate). You will learn key concepts and skills involved in creating effective designs that are flexible enough to accommodate change yet fit enough for today's climate. After “working” in three different divisions of a greeting card company, you will understand the connections among organizational design, culture, and employee outcomes.
Date: November 2 to 4
To download a brochure, click here.
We Have Our Winners
Congratulations to Tracey Taylor-O'Reilly, Allison McKay, and Virender Malhotra who were the happy winners in last month's e-newsletter contest.
Spotlight: HE Without Borders -
Further Adventures in Public Sector Consulting Abroad
By Diane S. Bégin
Diane S. Bégin is an Ottawa-based consultant and associate of Flaman Management Partners Limited who thrives on projects in the developing world. When we met at the HRPAO conference in February, she spun a mesmerizing tale about practicing her skills in rather difficult circumstances. In the second of a series of articles, she shares some of her experiences facilitating change in Kabul, Afghanistan.
“To the good of the country!” is often heard as workers sit on thick floor cushions after a long day's work. There is an unwavering sense of optimism, hope, and determination permeating this war-torn city of Kabul, Afghanistan. Perhaps the highly inspirational presence of the mountains of the Hindu Kush is what makes it so; or maybe this is simply one of life's little secrets that will remain forever unexplained to Westerners.
Kabul is like nowhere I have ever experienced. Progress is enormously challenging and achievements are incredibly fragile. I was told shortly after I arrived in the spring that there were just over 300 non-military Canadians working in Afghanistan on a variety of reconstruction projects. I am one of those consultants. My clients are the senior executives of the Independent Administration Reform and Civil Service Commission (IARCSC). I was asked to help build capacity within the IARCSC so that it can provide government-wide leadership to ministries and central bodies of government on key public sector reforms.
Two critical reforms in the civil service are ongoing: the Priorities Reform and Reconstruction, aimed at identifying core government programs/services, aligning government bodies, and establishing merit-based recruitment; and the Afghanistan Stabilization Program, which focuses on enhancing service delivery capacities in the provinces and districts.
As a contributor to these changes, I am reminded of the birth of my eldest son, whose body, from his very first breath, transformed from blue to pink – beginning at the centre of his tiny, fragile torso, and quickly spreading to his most distant extremities. What a miracle that was. The same fascinating phenomenon is happening in Afghanistan. As the civil service, the leading instrument of government, is replenished, progress pulsates at the centre and moves outward, beyond Kabul.
_borders.htm
~~~
Call us: 613 533 6628
Fax us: 613 533 6812
E-mail us: ircentre@post.queensu.ca
|
