Learning & development

We encourage and support all our people in achieving their full potential with a range of high quality learning and development (L&D) opportunities around the world.

Our 2008 global employee survey indicated that employees felt that there was room for improvement in the way in which personal development is managed to ensure that their skills are used to best effect. Our leaders take this feedback very seriously and new targets that address these issues have been included in the Senior Executive Team business performance management framework for 2009.

We are also in the process of adopting a new global approach, backed by the creation of a new global L&D organisation in 2008, which aims to ensure that high standards of best L&D practice are consistently applied in the most efficient way.   During 2008, we introduced an online resource that makes L&D tools and programmes available to all employees, creating a common platform that increases access to learning and supports self-development across the organisation. Implementation of further online resources will continue during 2009.

STRENGTHENING LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES

Our leadership development frameworks are focused on six core capabilities, which we believe are essential for strong and effective leadership:  passion for customers; strategic thinking; acting decisively; driving performance; working collaboratively; and developing people and the organisation.  These capabilities apply to all employees and are used in performance management, talent management, staffing and selection at all levels.

TALENT MANAGEMENT

Talent management is critical to ensuring that AstraZeneca has a quality pipeline of succession candidates for the future.  We take a globally aligned approach that focuses on objective assessment using standard tools to consider performance track record, leadership capability and potential. Our aim is to identify individuals with the potential for high performance in increasingly more senior and complex roles. These talent pools provide succession candidates for a range of leadership roles across the Company that are core to our continued business success.

The content of this page was externally assured by Bureau Veritas, February 2009.