Every third Russian HR specialist talks about the transformation of their companies

According to the results of a study conducted through a survey of 221 Russian HR professionals, most companies are now in the process of adaptation or transformation. Denis Konanchuk, director of the Corporate Training Department at the Skolkovo School of Management, spoke about this at a conference of the Kommersant publishing house “Corporate Education in an Era of Change”.

In particular, 30% of respondents in small companies (up to 5 thousand people), 41% in medium-sized ones (up to 25 thousand people) and 37% in large ones (over 25 thousand people) described the situation in this way. The second most popular answer was the resource saving phase (from 18% to 30%), the third – growth or development (from 15% to 22%), the fourth – stability (from 7% to 18%).

Top management of companies prioritizes operational efficiency, which is mentioned by 58% of respondents. Two years ago, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the authors conducted a similar study. At that time, operational efficiency was in second place (50%), and the leader among the answers was digital transformation, which was mentioned by 69% of respondents. In 2022, interest in it fell by half at once – to 34% of responses. “However, we interpret this not so that the topic of numbers is gone, but in such a way that it has become something obligatory, like hygiene,” said Denis Konanchuk.

At the same time, the number of responses related to the revision of the company’s strategy and business model has doubled, from 17% during the pandemic crisis to 33% now. “In covid, they tried not to touch the strategy. The leaders said: the strategizing cycle is a year and a half, perhaps the covid will end faster. Now this story has begun to touch. According to the feelings of those who answered, the context in which we found ourselves is for a long time, ”added Denis Konanchuk.

The expert concluded that the demand for managerial competencies has also changed: “It used to be said that the main drive is a top manager. Now they are saying: let’s work even with line managers who have direct access to ordinary employees. Everything that we invent at the top, comes down with difficulty.