Contents
From the PresidentSearch
| The Last Word |  |
A message from the director of Human Resources
 |
|
Gerard McDonald |
Through
the fall of 2001, all employees in our department were engaged in a discussion
of our mission and purpose. This was a very worthwhile process. It
obliged all of us to reflect on why we are here and to examine how we
are meeting the needs and expectations of the university community we
serve. It was also a time to talk about the strategies we would
use in fulfilling this mission, as well as the values and principles which
would guide us in working with each other and with others.
The product of this discussion was a reaffirmation of our overall mission
as one of supporting of the university’s commitment to excellence
in teaching, research and scholarship, and service to the general public.
We built on this, however, and committed ourselves to the goal of establishing
and sustaining Memorial University’s reputation as an employer of
choice, and maintaining a workplace culture in which all employees feel
valued and able to contribute their personal best to the achievement of
the university’s mandate.
In an organization as large and as diverse as ours, where resources are
often limited by financial constraints, we know this to be a significant
challenge. Nonetheless, this is our goal. We see ourselves demonstrating
human resources leadership within the university in several ways:
ß By implementing high quality programs and services that are responsive to the challenging needs of our evolving workplace, and which support the university’s strategic framework;
ß Acting as a strong, influential advocate for employees and fairness within the university workplace;
ß Promoting the adoption of progressive “best practices” in all areas of human resource management and organizational development; and,
ß Developing meaningful partnerships that are supportive of the diverse needs of the university community.
There
are certain core values which we have also agreed should guide us in our
day-to-day work within the department
Leadership Good management leadership in the various sections of Human Resources is essential. I look to our HR managers to be effective teachers, coaches, and motivators with their staff.
Integrity High standards of personal integrity, and respect for the capabilities and views of others, are very important.
Client Focus We must always seek to understand our clients’ needs, circumstances and point of view.
Quality Focus High standards of quality, and an ongoing focus on innovation and continuous improvement, are key to our long-term success
These
strategies and values are intended to be a touchstone for us in our day-to-day
work, and will be the foundation on which future directions and changes
in the area of human resources will be developed. In future editions
of the Communicator, I will use this space to highlight key HR
initiatives and the progress we are making in areas we know are of particular
interest to employees. I hope readers will find this interesting and helpful.
Comments? Suggestions? E-mail Gerard at Gerard.McDonald@mun.ca