Talent Management for Early Career Professionals

UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School Ireland

This introduction provides a summary outline of the module, including a brief biography of the module leaders, a description of the module content, the learning outcomes expected at the end of the module, and the arrangements for the delivery of the module.

MODULE FACULTY

Professor Karan Sonpar

Karan is a Full Professor of Management at University College Dublin, the Academic Director of MBA Programs and Associate Academic Director of Smurfit Executive Development. He delivers executive training for organizations such as Agilent, Allianz, Alltech, Almac, An Garda Síochána, Dawn Foods, Dairygold, DJEI, Department of Taoiseach, Ericsson, Enterprise Ireland, GAA, ICON, IDA Mater Hospital, Microsoft, Smurfit Kappa Group, PwC. Karan earned his PhD in 2008 from the University of Alberta, Canada. He has previously held academic appointments in Instituto de Empresa Business School, Spain and University of Manitoba, Canada. He has also served as a Captain in the Indian Military for eight years prior to moving to Canada to do his PhD. His work has been published in leading journals such as the Journal of International Business Studies, MIT Sloan Management Review, Journal of Management, Journal of Management Studies, Human Relations, andHuman Resource Management. Karan is a winner of an Early Career Research Award at UCD, a Professor of the Year Teaching Award at University of Manitoba, Canada and a Teaching Award at University of Alberta, Canada.

MODULE DESCRIPTION

This module will provide a foundation for talent management and identify key considerations in enabling the professional development of recent graduates to be successful in their workplace. This will be an intensive module that will involve lots of experiential exercises and exposure to leading consultants and executives. The focus of this module is developmental. Particular attention will be focused on exercises, individual self-assessment and reflections, discussing cases, and providing access to managers and executives of some leading companies in Ireland, particularly from the information technology, social media, and food sectors. Opportunities will also be provided for cultural immersion and social activities to make the experience enjoyable.

Key themes that will be covered over the module include:

Current evidence on talent management
Identifying a few mistakes early career graduates in managing their career,
Developing an understanding of one’s strengths and weaknesses,
Learning to be a more effective communicator and presenter,

WHY IRELAND? WHY UCD SMURFIT SCHOOL OF BUSINESS?

Ireland is an entrepreneurial country and has some of the world’s leading companies based in Dublin. Key pillars of excellence in Ireland include information technology, pharmaceuticals, and food. UCD Smurfit School of Business is triple accredited and its MBA Program is ranked 70^th in the world. The school emphasises an international mind-set and this module will adopt a developmental format to make the theory of talent management come alive. Be prepared to work hard, have your assumptions challenged, network, and have lots of fun over the five days!

WHAT MIGHT YOU EXPECT?

STRUCTURE OF THE MODULE

20% of the time will be spent on case studies

40% of the time will be spent on exercises/assessments/diagnostics/self-reflection

20% of the time will be spent on company visits (2 in total)

20% of the time will be spent with panels of managers from leading companies

TYPES OF EXPERIENTIAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL EXERCISES

Collaboration

Presentation skills

Conflict management

Personality assessments

Team-building

COMPANY VISITS (TWO IN TOTAL)

Air BnB/ LinkedIn/Google/Other technology company

Food company (with a sustainability theme)

PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Panel 1 – ‘What are we looking for’: Hiring managers or executives

Panel 2 – ‘I wish I knew’: Experiences and insights from recent graduates (3-8 years experience)

Panel 3 – ‘Dare to be different’: Start-up/Entrepreneurs

TYPES OF SOCIAL ACTIVITIES COVERED BY UCD MAY INCLUDE

Team-building literary pub crawl

Irish music/dance

One welcome/farewell meal

PREPARATION AND READINGS

5 case studies and 3 articles (will be emailed to you)

Book: ‘If I could tell you just one thing’ (300 pages; buy it yourself; approx. Euro 20)

ASSIGNMENTS (YOU NEED TO PASS ALL COMPONENTS TO PASS THE MODULE)

Pre-module assignment (2000 words): 30%

In-module participation and continuous assessment: 40%

Group video memoir –submitted on the final day (4-5 minutes long): 30%

Note: This is a Pass/Fail module. Full attendance and completion of all components to a satisfactory standard is mandatory. A ‘code of honor’ approach (punctuality, commitment, professional conduct, respect) will be collectively agreed and is expected of all participants.