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LEARNING FORUM – THE QAPCO DEBATES
09 July 2012

QAPCO’s approach to learning and development of its employees at all levels has always been innovative and thought-provoking. Recently QAPCO introduced another unique concept of ‘learning by discussing’. Based on a long Arab tradition of discussion and debate, the concept seeks to involve a group of young people into an exercise in creative thinking, idea sharing and organized thought-progression. The 90 minutes session is tightly woven around a script that demands concentration, listening skills, agility of mind to organize thoughts into an argument, and the ability to present these in an organized and disciplined manner.

All these skills were much in evidence at a recent Learning Forum, organized as part of QAPCO’s innovative Blended Learning strategy designed to develop and retain their Qatari National employees. The participants of the forum, representing a cross-section of professional disciplines within QAPCO, engaged in an invigorating battle of minds, pitting logic and argument, passion and reasoning, into carrying the proposed motion forward. The topic of the forum was ‘Is innovation the key to being a successful manager? A proposal initiated by the Human Resource & Learning Manager, Mr. Nasser Al Hajri. It elicited keen comments both for and against the topic. One group opposed the idea on the premise that ‘to manage a team successfully, a manager need not necessarily be innovative – as long as he has the right people with him who are innovative and talented, and the manager is capable to utilize their talents in a positive manner.’ The other group strongly argued that ‘if a manager is not innovative himself, he may not be in a frame of mind to accept innovation from others. He will believe that as long as everyone follows the tried and tested systems and processes written down by others there doesn’t exist the need to be innovative.’

The moderator, Dr. Shaukat Chandna, helped the participants reach the consensus that innovation indeed was a strong attribute for a manager who was ambitious and aspired to reach the higher rungs of managerial excellence where leadership would become a part of his job functions.

The session concluded with a thought-provoking Q & A session.

Mr. Mejali Al Kuwari, A/Head of Qatarization concluded the event by thanking over 30 enthusiastic participants from different departments for their valuable contribution towards the success of the Learning Forum, and hoped that this had been a great learning experience for them.

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