Aditi Arora

As we move forward in an ever changing globalized business environment, L&D as a function has come a long way - managing a fine balance between the traditional approach, methodology, and structures, retaining the core value proposition with equivalent focus onto the local business/workplace requirements unique to each organization whilst at the same time evolve as a strategic business partner to organizations, building and leveraging on best in trade practices and linking them to core organizational strategies and business plans. Upscaling the skillset and competencies of the workforce in the VUCA world has emerged as the key differentiator, and unformidable strength and an opportunity to navigate through the cut-throat competitive service-oriented organizations. A Four A framework for a successful competitive L&D function: Agility: Creating a dynamic learning environment focusing on the changing requirements/needs of the workforce, strategizing learning initiatives around the key focus areas/ gaps, proactively organizing customized, relevant and meaningful interventions to engage employees and scale up their skills required for future growth and transformation of the organization. Alignment: The learning strategy should be in alignment with the talent transformation strategy and the organizational business plan. All L&D plans and activities of conceptualizing and implementing new learning interventions, creating goal-oriented employee-centric continuous learning experience, and Enabling the workforce with requisite skills and knowledge to intrinsically support and drive the objectives of an organization should be measurable & impactful - having specific outcomes which are woven around the long- term organizational goals and in tandem with the values and vision of the organization. Adherence: Establishingpolicies/processes/procedures and related matrices to measure the learning success, compliance to organizational mandates along with the business impact it intends to create on key stakeholders, innovation & creativity in designing & delivery of learning journeys helps in maintaining desired quality standards in accelerating organizational transformation. Ambidextrous: L&D function of evolving organizations should follow ambidextrous approach in their regular operations which involves exploiting present capabilities while being open to breaking with the past and ready for new opportunities Learning and development plays an important role in giving shape, direction, and context to the organization. Hence, it is crucial for the function to be flexible, versatile, responsive, and aligned to the current and anticipated future requirements of the organization for a stable and continued growth.