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Executives get strategic advice

26 October 2005

A group of senior managers from Hero Honda -- the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer -- visited Monash for a seminar earlier this month.

Hero Honda Motors Limited vice-president -- Human Resource Management Mr Narendra Nath Akhouri and Professor Sohal.

The 50 company executives received training in strategic thinking and knowledge management from Department of Management staff.

The visit was led by Hero Honda Motors Limited managing director and CEO Mr Pawan Munjal. The company's joint managing director, Mr Miki Yamamoto, from Japan, also attended the seminar.

Professor Amrik Sohal, from the Department of Management, was asked by the group's corporate services managing director and CEO, Mr Sunil Munjal, to organise the half-day seminar for his staff.

Professor Sohal said the focus of the seminar was how to take a good company and make it great.

"Hero Honda is an extremely successful company -- they hold 40 to 50 per cent of the market share in India and produce over three million motorcycles a year," he said.

"With the assistance of Mr Jeffrey McLean and Associate Professor Vivek Chaudhri, we were able to provide the company's executives with suggestions on how to continue to improve their business.

"It was an interactive session in which we discussed issues such as strategic thinking, knowledge management and knowledge sharing."

Professor Sohal said the feedback had been positive, and he hoped there would be further collaboration between Hero Honda and Monash.

"The company has expressed interest in being involved in our upcoming International Research Conference on Quality, Innovation and Knowledge Management," he said.

"The conference is held biennially, each time in a different location, and will be held in New Delhi, India, in February 2007."