Solvay

Problem Statement

How to develop international mobility program at Solvay that would allow the company to align its business goals with individual employees’ needs? | The problem is addressed at the system level |

External Analysis

Factor (Economic, Technological, Cultural) | Implications on the problem |

Economic: * High demand for chemicals and high growth in Asia compared to Europe and US. * Many European firms responded to restricted to restricted growth in chemicals industry through M&A and JVs. * Pharmaceutical industry sought to increase revenues from emerging economies like India,China,Russia,South Korea because of tight regulation in US and Europe * High competition from Arkema,Novartis and PolyOne in various sectors and various locations | * Best available talent in chemicals SBU from Solvay should be available in Asia, irrespective of the country from where it comes. * M&A and JVs in different countries meant incorporating new employees in Solvay who would need new business heads from Solvay’s Headquarters or other regions to supervise them. * Thus high potential employees from Solvay should be present in these countries to take advantage of this. * This meant Solvay needed to retain its top employees and have low attrition rate. International mobility of employees could be one of the reasons for attrition. |

Technological: * R and D was a significant part of the industry (pharma, chemical and plastics) and required highly technically skilled employees. | * This meant recruiting and retaining top R&D specialists and lower their attrition by enlisting them in their choice of mobility program, if required. |

Legal: * EU’s environmental policy and EC’s REACH put the companies in Europe at a competitive disadvantage. | * The best legal minds should be in Europe to tackle the legal policies. The mobility program should ensure this. |

Cultural: * All 3 sectors had heavy presence in US and Europe and...