HR Administration

Winners Gather in Chicago for 20th Annual Workforce Management Optimas Awards

By Rick Bell

Mar. 25, 2011

Workforce Management held its 20th annual Optimas Awards presentation recognizing initiatives that created positive business results from managing an organization’s workforce in 2010.

This year’s event, held in Chicago on March 24 at the Mid-America Club located in the Aon Center, took on a global perspective, as Mumbai, India-based Tata Consultancy Services won General Excellence honors. It was the first time a non-North American-based company won for General Excellence. Bangalore, India-based Infosys Technologies also was honored in the Competitive Advantage category.

“This is the most prestigious award you can win in the field of human resources,” says Workforce Management publisher Todd Johnson. “The awards aren’t just for great programs—companies have to clearly demonstrate the bottom-line impact of a program to the organization.”

Before the awards ceremonies, representatives from the winning organizations participated in round-table discussions on topics affecting the management of today’s workforce. The sessions, which touched on employee engagement, use of social media, talent recruitment and leadership development, were moderated by Workforce Management staff members.

The winners were named in December 2010 and earned the distinction because of their ability to tackle challenges with flexibility and ingenuity. There are two overarching themes among the winners in this volatile global economy: how to do more with less and how to find, develop and retain talent.

The winners were:

• General Excellence, Tata Consultancy Services

• Competitive Advantage, Infosys Technologies

• Corporate Citizenship, Microsoft Corp.

• Financial Impact, Ultimate Software

• Global Outlook, IBM Corp.

• Innovation, GameStop Corp.

• Managing Change, OppenheimerFunds Inc.

• Parnership, Protective Life Corp.

• Service, U.S. Navy

• Vision, Planned Cos.

The application deadline for the 2011 Optimas Awards is Aug. 31. Winners are scheduled to be announced in the December 2011 issue of Workforce Management.

Workforce Management Online, March 2011Register Now!

Rick Bell is Workforce’s editorial director.

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