In the 14th week of the Human Resources Competency Development course within the GHRM MBA program, led by Professors Shyh-Jer Chen and Heidi Chang, the class was honored to host Teresa Tong, the Head of Human Resources for Asia Pacific at Ørsted Taiwan. Ørsted, a leading Danish renewable energy company, specializes in the development and operation of offshore and onshore wind farms, bioenergy plants, solar farms, and energy storage facilities.

Ms. Tong, who has amassed approximately 17 years of expertise in the field of human resources, has previously held positions with Deloitte & Touche Taiwan, Kimberly Clark, and HSBC. She is an alumna of Fu Jen Catholic University, where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Statistics, and National Central University, where she completed her Master's in Human Resource Management.

During her session, Ms. Tong provided an insightful introduction to her academic and professional trajectory before delving into an extensive overview of Ørsted's organizational structure, particularly its HR functions and annual cycles. Notably, she emphasized Ørsted's unique approach to human resources, termed "People Development," which reflects a commitment to a people-centric management philosophy aimed at enhancing employee engagement and corporate success. This department is pivotal in fostering talent, driving organizational change, and ensuring robust support systems for both employees and business operations.

Furthermore, Ms. Tong outlined the 80/20 framework of the individual development plan, which prioritizes future strategies over past performance, thereby aligning HR practices with Ørsted’s forward-thinking culture. This approach helps avoid potential conflicts between employee perceptions and managerial assessments during performance evaluations.

The lecture also featured a practical case study on Employee Engagement, wherein students actively engaged in analyzing an employee engagement report. This exercise was particularly beneficial, providing practical insights into data interpretation and problem-solving. Students worked in groups, offering diverse solutions and perspectives, which highlighted the importance of multifaceted approaches to HR issues. During this interactive segment, Ms. Tong provided valuable feedback to the students, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing actions and including budget considerations when proposing solutions. The discussion also touched on how the company could further investigate the root causes of issues identified in the report through focus groups to devise effective solutions.

Ms. Tong’s engaging presentation and the interactive case study session were well-received, with students appreciating the real-world insights and the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting. The class expressed profound gratitude for Ms. Tong’s willingness to share her extensive experience and for the valuable lessons imparted during her lecture.