German aviation group Lufthansa is sharing its management development
programmes and offering staff work experience with other companies as part of a
business partnership.
The Star Alliance was set up to encourage networking between companies
including DHL in the cargo business and airlines including British Midland,
Singapore Airlines, Air Canada and United Airlines, Dr Michael Heuser, head of
Lufthansa School of Business, told delegates.
Partners in the alliance can also take part in programmes at the Lufthansa
Business School, the first corporate university in Germany.
"People will build professional networks along the entire value chain
of Lufthansa and its partners," said Heuser.
The alliance is one of a number of initiatives to encourage networking and
entrepreneurial skills among staff identified as high potential.
Other initiatives include the Explorers 21 scheme which annually targets
about 200 staff with two or more years’ tenure who are pinpointed as ‘high
flyers’.
The participants are offered both development programmes and on-the-job
experience supported by their line managers.
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Heuser said the need to motivate and retain staff in the industry had new
urgency following 11 September and the current economic crisis.
"The question of retaining talent becomes even more pressing in a
crisis, as this is when headhunting companies start to surf through your
company," said Heuser.
