Tata Motors shares its practices around Fast Track Career Scheme with Tata Steel

Published on February 09, 2022

Tata Steel has always been a pioneer in introducing several pathbreaking people policies and initiatives including introduction of various labour reforms before it became a national standard. In line with its objective of becoming the ‘Best Place to Work for in Manufacturing in India’, and to keep up with the changing needs of employees and the organisation, Tata Steel wanted to explore the existing ‘Fast Track Career Scheme’ across Tata companies to derive relevant learning from it. In this regard, it approached Tata Business Excellence Group (TBExG). TBExG arranged a best practices session with Tata Motors to understand process details, its administration, challenges, initial hiccups, key success factors and metrics for measuring efficiency and effectiveness.

On December 16, 2021, Jaladhi Thakkar, General Manager - Learning & Development, Tata Motors, shared the company’s ‘Fast Track Selection Scheme (FTSS)’ with Tata Steel. This scheme provides a unique opportunity for employees to accelerate the pace of their careers at Tata Motors. The FTSS programme blends individual aspirations and organisational needs to create a talent pipeline. It evaluates individuals on their managerial and leadership qualities and provides a platform to develop and explore new avenues within the company and across subsidiaries. The programme encapsulates intensive training, educational inputs, and rotational assignments. The FTSS follows a voluntary registration process for L5 employees based on eligibility criteria of consistent performance, tenure, and educational background. The applicants go through a multi-level screen process and on selection undergo a focused development for a period of two years. During these two years of development, FTSS managers go through various learning interventions and have exposure to real-time projects to develop organisation knowledge, and leadership competencies.

The FTSS programme is open for high performing, professional Graduate (CA, BE, B Tech) employees at L5 grade, who have undergone a minimum of two continuous appraisal cycles and work experience not exceeding eight years. The selection procedure is rigorous with only 2 to 5% of the applicants finding a place in the final list. Eligible employees have to self-nominate themselves and undergo four steps of screening:

1. Online screening
2. Panel interview
3. Assessment centre - Shortlisted candidates attend a two-day assessment centre which uses various tools and exercises like case studies and group tasks.
4. Final interview with L1/L2 leaders

The FTSS selects undergo a focused two year development plan. The first year is centred largely around providing experience/learning through projects, training at reputed B-Schools and mentorship with senior leaders. In the second year they are trained for a people management role. On completion of the programme, the selects are placed with critical and challenging roles as per the organisational needs on a full-time basis.

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