Strengthening of Partnership between Management Training Institutions and Companies

Navigator Consulting implemented Phases I-III of the European Training Foundation’s project Strengthening of Partnership between Management Training Institutions and Companies in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in 2001-2003.

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The ETF is an agency of the European Union based in Turin, Italy, established in 1990 to contribute to the development of the education and training systems of the EU partner countries. ETF projects are focused on helping transition and developing countries in the reform of education, training and labour market systems in the context of the wider EU external relations policy.

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In Phase I, Navigator Consulting implemented the following tasks:

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• Developed a Management Tool Kit  as a means of analysing in-company training and management development needs;

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• Trained selected trainers as well as company managers in the application of the Tool Kit as well as in-company needs identification and business process analysis;

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• Applied the Tool Kit approach to a group of 10 participating companies in the three countries (5 companies were from Ukraine: Kray Kyiv; Napoi Kyiv;

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• Agroinvest Dnepropetrovsk; Renes Dnepropetrovsk; Progress Dnepropetrovsk);

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• Worked intensively with senior corporate management in agreeing on in-company training needs and overall management development priorities;

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• Supported the dissemination and promotion of the Tool Kit Approach within the region.

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Phase II of the ETF Strengthening Partnership Project took place in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. A corporate training development in 8 selected companies in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan was delivered. They included Obolon Brewery, Ukrplastic, Napoi of Kyiv; Renes of Dnepropetrovsk; Butya, Asem-Ai, Raimbek Bottlers of Almaty, Aalam of Bishkek. These companies operate in the sectors of beer & drinks, plastic packaging, fruit juice & soft drinks, trading & distribution, satellite & space technology.

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We managed a consortium of 4 leading business schools, including Kyiv Mohyla Business School (KMBS), Dnepropetrovsk Academy of Business, Management and Law (DAUBP); International Academy of Business (IAB), Almaty; and the Academy of Management (AOM), Bishkek. The specific objectives of the ETF Phase II included:

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• Development a 15-day, customised management training programme within 8 companies in different fields (marketing, strategy, organisational structure, HRM, finance, etc.)

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• Implementation of the training programme in conjunction with local trainers.

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• Monitoring and assessment of the impact of training activities.

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• Applying the Management Tool Kit, a tool for the identification of training needs and the design of training programmes developed during the Phase I project.

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• Supporting the ETF in promoting the principles of management training and strategic development in the region through conference participation, dissemination, public relations and similar activities.

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Seven Navigator Consulting consultants worked on the project, including three partners and four consultants, supported by our offices in Athens, Nicosia, Paris and Kyiv. The project formed a lasting impact among both the business schools and companies: the business schools have started promoting customised training programmes according to the ETF’s Tool Kit Approach; 3 participating companies have developed Human Resource units; other companies continued project work and training under their own resources.

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In Phase III, Navigator Consulting implementated 17 training sessions in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia, training a total of 347 professional HR managers, trainers and consultants in the Tool Kit methodology. Some of the corporate participants included: Yukos, Gazprom,  Bank Russian Standard, IBG NIKoil, Western NIS Investment Fund, HVB HypoVereinsBank, Gostomel Glass Factory, Rubezhnoye Board & Packaging Group,  BBH Baltic Beverage Holdings, IFC International Finance Corporation, Hurricane Oil Products, “BankTsentrCredit,” Kyrgyztelecom and others. Project activities included:

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• Disseminate the Management Tool Kit Approach to new audiences in the NIS and CEEC regions. This was achieved through a series of 1 or 1.5-day training programmes for both corporate managers as well as business schools and professional trainers.

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• Development of links with the Russian Association of Business Education (RABE), the Federal Commission on Organisation of Managers and Executives Training for Enterprises of National Economy of Russian Federation, the successor organisations of the National Training Foundation, and others.

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• Support to business schools and management training institutions in developing services for companies. This included issues such as pricing, service analysis, coaching.

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• Promotion of management development in the NIS and CEEC regions. This was achieved through the exploration of linkages between companies, donors and business schools and other training providers.

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• Liaison and promotion of linkages between donors and aid programmes. Important links have been achieved with the Tacis Managers’ Training Programme (MTP II) as well as other donors, including the IFC, Western NIS Fund and USAID.

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• Organisation of a study tour to France and Italy, with the objective of reviewing different systems of management development and training. The tour took place from May 21 – 29, 2003 and included visits to leading business schools, employers’ federations, chambers of commerce, companies and other training centers.

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A total of four Navigator Consulting consultants implemented Phase III, together with partners from management training institutions and other programmes in the region.

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Services Provided

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• Management development needs assessment; gap analysis; development of systematic methods for training and non-training needs assessment.

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• Training programme design: prioritisation of training needs by strategic importance and cost effectiveness; assessment and evaluation methodology; defining programme budget and resources

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• Recruitment of trainers and training providers: qualifications and profile of trainer provider; selecting providers

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• Training planning: training programme budgeting and resource allocation; long-term and short-term budget allocation; monitoring financial performance; scheduling & logistics selection; Training curriculum design; materials design; testing in practice; Action Learning

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• Programme assessment, evaluation and follow-up; training assessment; training evaluation; measuring return on investment (ROI) of training

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• Organisation of study tours and train-the-trainers in companies, business schools and other management training and development institutions

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• Tool kit and training manual and methodology development

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• Recruitment, development and assessment of trainers and consultants

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• Strategic HR management