In week 12 of the Human Resources Competency Development class (GHRM MBA), led by Professor Shyh-Jer Chen and Professor Heidi Chang, the class had the privilege of hosting distinguished guest speakers Jerry Tsai from Mars Incorporated Taiwan and Jerry Huang from Texas Instruments Taiwan. Mars is renowned as the world's leading manufacturer of chocolate, chewing gum, mints, and fruity confections. Texas Instruments, a global semiconductor company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, designs, manufactures, tests, and sells analog and embedded processing chips.

Mr. Tsai, currently the People & Organization Business Partner at Mars Taiwan, brings approximately seven years of HR experience from esteemed organizations such as Google Taiwan, Medtronic, and Texas Instruments. His expertise spans talent acquisition, development, and engagement, employee communication, and collaborating with leadership teams to deliver people solutions. Mr. Huang serves as the Talent Management Manager at Texas Instruments Taiwan, overseeing HR management across Korea, Taiwan, and South Asia. With over nine years at Texas Instruments, starting as a recruiter and progressing to his current managerial role, Mr. Huang has amassed significant experience across various enterprises. Notably, both Mr. Tsai and Mr. Huang are esteemed alumni of the Institute of Human Resource Management at National Sun Yat-sen University.

The session commenced with Mr. Tsai and Mr. Huang providing insights into their academic and professional journeys. They then delved into an overview of the HR life cycle and the role of an HR Business Partner (HRBP) within a corporate environment. They underscored the "70-20-10 learning concept" for effective skill-building, which advocates that 70% of learning should occur on the job, 20% through informal learning, and 10% via formal training. Emphasizing the development of common skills, they discussed strategies for team management, including how to "Know it, Grow it, Inspire it, Involve it, and Reward it," and the importance of succession planning.

The speakers elucidated the distinctions between an HR Generalist and an HRBP, highlighting their overlapping roles in employee care and leadership while differentiating their responsibilities. HR Generalists typically handle functional tasks and possess expertise across various departments. In contrast, HRBPs focus on specific business units, acting as strategic partners who assist unit supervisors with manpower promotion and scheduling. The HRBP's role is multifaceted, encompassing three core functions: strategic business partner, operational expert, and employee advocate. HRBPs are pivotal in integrating company goals with business unit objectives and employee needs, thereby achieving organizational synergy.

To provide practical insights, Mr. Tsai and Mr. Huang presented a case study involving a managerial-employee conflict. Students were divided into groups and tasked with devising HRBP-led solutions for resolving the disagreement. This interactive session elicited innovative and thoughtful responses from the groups, who successfully navigated conflict resolution without bias.

The class was highly engaged throughout the lecture, benefiting from practical advice and lively discussions. The session concluded with an appreciation for Mr. Tsai and Mr. Huang's valuable contributions and their willingness to travel to Kaohsiung to share their experiences.