Published on November 01, 2023
In the 421st EDGE webinar on November 1, 2023, Atrayee Sanyal, VP, Human Resource Management, Tata Steel, presented a wide range of innovative strategies and initiatives. These have been instrumental in cultivating an outstanding workplace culture, strategically preparing the organisation for the future workforce.
Unlocking Potential through Aggressive Growth
Tata Steel is on an ambitious journey to achieve its 40 million-ton growth goal. Ms Sanyal, elaborated on how the company embraced a more agile mode of working to break down this colossal target. This transformation allowed for physical greenfield projects, logistics projects, and even HR-related projects to be managed through agile methodologies. The approach highlights Tata Steel's dedication to adaptability.
Intriguingly, the three divisions considered non-agile when the journey began — procurement, HR, and projects — are now undergoing significant process changes. The goal is to build a genuinely agile operating model for HR, ensuring that every team member is part of at least one agile project.
Reimagining Diversity
Tata Steel's journey toward diversity and inclusion is an evolving one. The company introduced the Mosaic framework, bringing together groups of people to shape the diversity agenda. Ms Sanyal emphasised the introduction of flexi-working, menstrual leave, adoption assistance, and gender transition support as global discussions around remote work were virtually non-existent.
Tata Steel has been setting the bar high. The company managed to bring in 100 transgender employees, 100 female heavy earth-moving machine operators, and many more, all without disrupting the workforce. Their progress showcases how diversity can be effectively implemented even in fields traditionally considered less diverse.
Safety, Quality Management, and Digital Quotient
Safety is a paramount concern at Tata Steel. The commitment to total quality management remains a defining characteristic of the company, reinforcing the importance of ethics, diversity, and agile behaviours. Tata Steel also takes immense pride in its risk management approach, winning the Golden Peacock Award for excellence in this area. Lastly, the company’s focus on leadership skills with a digital quotient sets the tone for the future.
Fostering Engagement
As part of Tata Steel's commitment to workforce engagement, the company initiated changes in its performance management system. It restructured the organisation to prioritise meritocracy and encourage high-performance employees. The shift allowed employees to move away from transactional roles, thanks to the introduction of shared services like One Tata One Network by TCS. These measures have made leaders more accountable, leading to an overall improvement in engagement scores.
From embracing agility in the pursuit of ambitious growth targets to pioneering diversity and fostering employee engagement, Tata Steel is clearly a forward-looking organisation.
It is not only committed to achieving its business goals but also creating a workplace that reflects the dynamism of the 21st century while upholding its core values.