Innovative Approach for Quality Emiratization and Cost Optimization
Authors: Shokry K. , Thabit S. M. , Al Mansoori N. 
Published: November 2016

Objective/Scope

The skills, talents and expertise of Organization's people constitute the master key to business success and sustainable competitive advantage. Utilizing organization's SMEs to contribute effectively to the People development processes to enhance the knowledge & skills of Entry Point employees and accelerate the quality Emiratization process through developing and delivering learning sessions that are highly related to organization's business, aligned with Entry Point employee's development frameworks and job requirements in a very cost effective manner.

Methods, Procedures, Process

A process was established on how to utilize organization's SMEs to enhance the competence level of Entry Point employees up to optimum benefits. The process covers several sub-processes as follows: Conduct Training Needs Analysis for Entry Point Employees; Identify learning topics from development frameworks along with the required levels; Identify Talented (SMEs) voluntarily could run learning sessions based on manager's recommendation and SME's performance; Align SME's area of expertise with topics; prepare the training nomination and training schedule; Develop the learning material along with the business case studies; Execute the plan; Carry out regular feedback to assure the quality and improve the process.

Results, Observations, Conclusions

Fifteen SMEs were identified, developed and delivered fifteen learning sessions during 2015.

The conducted learning sessions covered several engineering disciplines i.e. Electrical, Process, Piping/Pipeline, Mechanical, Instrument & Control, Corrosion & Inspection, Civil and Project Quality & Control.

The average duration of each learning sessions was three days and attended by 215 participants with total man-days of 554.

The estimated saving value of the conducted learning sessions last year was $144,658.

Excellent feedback was received from all participants as the delivered learning sessions were highly related to Organization's business, supports the real work activities and competency elements from Entry Point employees' Development Frameworks. It's significant to note that learning sessions developed and conducted by organization's SMEs received among the highest feedback ratings when compared to training vendors.

The key advantages of this program are as follows: Very cost efficient learning process that saves significant amount after replacing the current courses by external providers; Promotes the knowledge sharing culture amongst employees; Contributes to the further formation of learning communities and a knowledge-based culture throughout; Supports establishing e-library that includes all training materials and case studies that will be accessible to all employees 24/7 through PCs or mobile devices.

Novel/Additive Information

The learning sessions delivered by SMEs, have reflected positively which have improved the knowledge and skills of Entry Point employees due the fact that topics were designed based on actual organization's knowledge and experience.

It is meant to address that SMEs with long years of experience are most likely to deliver the tailored courses to meet the required competence level of Entry Point employees and able to use real case studies that relates to the organization's business.