A new university designed to enable IT specialists acquire management skills to prepare them for leadership positions within the industry, has opened in SA.
JSE-listed Information Technology giant Dimension Data Holdings has launched its own corporate `university` to focus exclusively on management and leadership development.
Designed along similar lines to the internationally renowned Motorola and General Electric corporate universities, the Dimension Data University was established in association with management development company, The International Centre for Management Development (ICMD), and offers qualifications accredited by the prestigious London and Manchester Business Schools.
Dimension Data chairman Jeremy Ord says the Dimension Data University complements the group`s numerous other training initiatives which are focused largely on the development of IT skills.
"Dimension Data is acutely aware of the global technical skills shortage. But South Africa also has a shortage of people with strategic management and leadership expertise. Group companies currently boast numerous individuals with outstanding technical capabilities, but who lack the foundation required for promotion into management positions.
"Any Dimension Data group employee can apply for admission to the University because we regard management development as a strategic investment in the group`s future.
"The training offered by the new Didata University is closely aligned to the group`s strategic vision and will ensure that we have the people with the leadership and management competencies to execute Dimension Data`s strategies effectively - and so deliver competitive advantage," Ord adds.
Dimension Data last year sponsored and took an equity stake in ICMD, which offers customised executive management programmes to blue chip companies seeking to improve their global competitiveness.
ICMD founder and head, Marilyn Chaplin, says Dimension Data University courses draw on programmes developed by the prestigious London and Manchester Business Schools and have been tailored to meet Dimension Data`s needs by focusing specifically on the IT group`s issues.
In addition, programmes have been devised for all levels of employees throughout the group, from Didata`s top 25 executives to individuals in non-managerial or supervisory positions who have been identified as potential future leaders.
These include a leadership programme for second-tier managers selected for their creativity and strategic thinking capabilities and an Advanced Management Programme for those already in management positions or who have undergone formal management training and want to upgrade their qualification.
In addition, there`s a Management Development Programme for employees with strong technical skills who want to move into management positions in the future; and a Foundation in Management Programme which addresses the need for accelerated development requirements among target groups.
"These courses ensure that employees not only gain a top, credible and internationally recognised qualification such as a MBA degree, but also an unprecedented insight into the group`s operations," Chaplin explains.
In its first six months of operation, some 140 Dimension Data employees attended the Top Executive and leadership programmes. The introduction of the new Management Development programmes has resulted in a flood of applications from employees throughout Didata group companies.
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