Petróleos
de Venezuela, PDVSA, is one of the largest oil producing companies in the world.
To help attain its mission in a highly competitive environment, PDVSA has
developed an educational strategy that is implemented through the Centro
Internacional de Educación y Desarrollo (CIED) – the International Center for
Education and Development – the company’s corporate university.
CIED
has developed an educational program for high potential personnel.
The program – “Educational Proposal to Leverage Organizational
Alignment Processes” (“Propuesta Educativa para Apalancar Procesos de
Alineación Organizacional”– aims to create a learning environment that
allows fast learners the opportunity to acquire knowledge and know-how and to
provide them with opportunities to test and experience directly what they have
learned, emphasizing their ability to quickly use the acquired tools. Through
action learning, the program is intended to develop and focus the company’s
intellectual capital around its business strategy, and ultimately to help its
business units remain competitive in a more challenging market.
The
PDVSA Gas Human Capital Development Program provides an example of the model’s
application. This business unit has
been assigned more complex and demanding responsibilities, and consequently its
management ranks required a more market-driven approach to its business.
Accordingly, the training program has emphasized the mastery of basic
tools for managing a more commercial enterprise, including strategy, finance,
marketing, and trading.
The
program has been designed to 1) build effective interpersonal skills, team
awareness, and active listening; 2) develop a strategic view of the gas industry
worldwide and PDVSA’s positioning within it, 3) create more flexible ways of
thinking and faster and more efficient ways of learning; and 4) improve
self-awareness and a willingness to make commitments and take responsibility.
This
program brings together high-level managers and specialized senior advisors from
all work divisions and geographic regions of the PDVSA Gas Business.
The first management group that opened the program in October, 2000
averaged 37 years of age and 12 years work experience in the organization.
The group underwent 230 hours of training, including monthly classroom
meetings, distance learning in between, and an action project whose results were
due at the end. The program encouraged participants to apply their new
knowledge and skills along the way.
The
main lessons from the program include:
o
A key success factor is obtaining top management commitment, shown by its
approval of the required resources, support of the administrative guidelines,
and the attention to the follow-up indicators.
o
It is critical to focus in detail on designing the educational program to serve
precisely what a business unit such as PDVSA Gas wants, and for this it is
essential for the central training staff at CIED to work closely with the
business unit staff.
o
It is important to provide participants with personal learning objectives and
on-the-job mentoring and training during the program.
Note:
Marisol Pulgar is a consultant to PDVSA’s Leadership Development program, and
she can be reached at pulgarms@pdvsa.com.
Information on PDVSA can be found at http://www.pdvsa.pdv.com/english/home_page_en.html.
