Within the scope of the European Enterprise Network EBIC-EGE Project by KOSGEB Izmir Directorate, Aegean Young Business People Association (EGİAD) and Aegean Industrialists and Business People Association (ESİAD) jointly organized the workshop titled “Transformation of the HR Concept: Transition from Human Resources to People and Culture” on December 4, 2024, bringing together important names of the Aegean Region business world. Moderated by Originnovation, the event developed solution proposals for a transformation focused on people and culture in organizations with the Design Thinking method.
Designing a Resilient HR Structure for Business
At the workshop, member company executives and HR managers of member companies shared their experiences and knowledge on the latest HR trends, changing HR dynamics, the future of talent management and digitalization in HR that will help them succeed in the business world of the future. The event, which provided the opportunity to seek answers to the question of “How can we design the resilient HR management of the Aegean Region?”, emphasized that organizations should create more flexible, resilient and agile structures in multi-crisis environments. The event, where the Design Thinking method was discussed, stated that human resources departments should assume a strategic leadership role in today’s world where they have evolved into human and culture departments.
The meeting, which started with the opening speeches of KOSGEB Provincial Director Levent Arslan and ESİAD Board of Directors Chair Sibel Zorlu, EGİAD Chairman of the Board Alp Avni Yelkenbiçer reminded that employees are no longer just a workforce, but also individuals in search of meaning and belonging, and said, “Especially Generation Z expects a value-oriented approach and flexibility from workplaces. Economically, low employee loyalty creates serious costs for companies. Technological developments, on the other hand, necessitate a work environment where human touch becomes more important, with artificial intelligence and automation transforming business processes. While traditional human resources approaches try to fit individuals into standard processes, ignoring individual differences and cultural contributions in this new era is no longer sustainable.”
Yelkenbiçer, who emphasized that companies should take strategic steps to transition to the “Human and Culture” approach, said, “First of all, the leadership approach must be transformed. Leaders should not only take on a managerial role, but also an inspiring and supportive role. The organizational structure should be redesigned with a model based on collaboration rather than hierarchy. Flexible working models, personalized career development programs and a meaningful feedback culture should be implemented to increase employee experience.”
EGİAD Yelkenbiçer stated that they prioritize youth employment and finding solutions to the problem of NEET Youth, also known as “Home Youth”,EGİAD "One of the policy recommendations in the NEET Youth Research Report that we prepared as a company is to focus on the needs of young people in the business world and develop new approaches. In order to implement this recommendation, the project of organizing training programs for human resources managers of leading sectors in Izmir is also included in our report. With this event that we organized, we have started to implement the recommendations in our NEET Youth Research Report."
The event’s stakeholder, ESİAD Board of Directors Chairwoman Sibel Zorlu, emphasized in her speech that the transition from human resources to people and culture has become the key to the success of employees and businesses in today’s business world. Drawing attention to the importance of supporting decent work, employees who feel valued and creating an inclusive business culture, Zorlu stated that evaluating technology opportunities with a human-centered approach will add both economic and social value to businesses. Stating that the new generation work order plays a critical role in the development of SMEs, Zorlu said that employees are motivated by the culture of the work environment and therefore it is now a necessity to review human resources policies. “Developing policies that find solutions to employee needs and focus on people is a guide for the future of the business world,” she said.
KOSGEB Izmir Director Dr. Levent Arslan emphasized that the intention of human resources is a critical element for the success of transformation processes in the digital transformation leadership trainings they organized within the scope of the Enterprise Europe Network EBIC-EGE project. Arslan stated that for this reason, they preferred to evaluate the title of “resilience” in the project from a human and cultural perspective in an event.
Agenda Topics and Workshop Outcomes
At the event, topics such as digitalization in HR management, the future of talent management and the design of the Aegean Region's resilient HR structure were discussed. The following topics stood out in particular:
Cultural transformation: Transformation of organizations into a human and culture-focused structure in line with their vision and mission.
Training and development programs: Developing innovative solutions that improve the employee experience.
Resilience and agility: New working models for adaptation and sustainability in multi-crisis environments.
New Collaborations with Co-Learning
During the workshop process, participants had the opportunity to both exchange information and establish new collaborations. SMEs, industrialists and business world representatives in the region exchanged ideas on developing innovative solutions for global collaborations.
A Look at the Future of HR with Design Thinking
The Design Thinking training and workshop, organized by Originnovation, enabled participants to take concrete steps towards a transformation process focused on people and culture. The workshop is expected to have a strong impact that will transform HR management in the Aegean Region.
Support from the Enterprise Europe Network
The event was held within the scope of the Enterprise Europe Network (EBIC-EGE) project of KOSGEB Izmir Directorate. It was emphasized that the network, which provides an important platform to strengthen national and international collaborations for SMEs, plays a critical role in increasing the innovation capacity in the region. The event was an important meeting that supports the business world to prepare for a more resilient, agile and innovative future with a management approach focused on people and culture. KOSGEB, EGİAD It was reported that such events, which are carried out in cooperation with ESİAD, will continue and will continue to add value to the business world of the Aegean Region.
