Ageing worker population growing issue in Sri Lanka and the world
Human resources planning is often neglected by project managers and this could lead to even failure in the entire project plan, according to one of Sri Lanka’s most renowned architects. Prof. (Ms.) Chitra Wedikkara, Immediate Past President, Sri Lanka Institute of Architects lamented that most often they as project managers forget the planning for human resources, when she addressed a seminar on ‘World of Project Management’ which was held parallel to the ‘India Expo 2015′ conducted at the BMICH last week.
The exhibition was organised by the Federation of Indian Export Organisation (FIEO) with the support of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India and the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka. Around 50 leading companies involved in multi-product and services on construction related products, apparel and garments, cosmetics, agro products, pharmaceuticals, power and electrical technology took part.
At the opening ceremony, Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman FIEO said that their members explore and want to expand their presence across the world. Prof. Wedikkara continuing at the seminar said that the human resource planning is the tool which aids the management of the project. She said that it is the duty of the project managers to keep the morale of the staff in high spirits with such acts like appreciating the good of the staff and to reward them, which they often fail.
She said that they often forget to identify the strengths and weaknesses of human resources which lead to failure of the project. In her opinion, she said that management of the people is the key element in managing a project and said “If you cannot manage people – the human resource – then your project fails”.
On the dearth of qualified workers, one issue is the ageing worker population as indicated in most western countries. She said, “If you talk to a contractor the biggest lamentation they make is that they do not have enough labour because they have not managed labour properly”.