Sun to train SP employees in middle management

In a bid to support SPs and channel partners to fight the issue of attrition
and strengthen them to retain their human resources, Sun Microsystems has rolled
out Sun Catalyst Program. The program is concep-tualized to train the employees
of SPs at managerial level.

"The rate at which the partners face attrition is around 29 to 30 percent.
Sun Catalyst Program has been designed in a manner that contributes to the
training of people in middle management,

who are responsible for handling a team under them. The prime objective is to
help them in controlling the outflow of employees so that less resources are
utilized in appointing new people," commented Sudhir Nayar, Director-Partner
Sales, Sun Microsystems India

Sun enrolls 20 partners for each training sessions and the managers are kept
under training for one year. The first batch of partners was put on training in
July this year.

The program is designed to provide interactive training session for the
initial 15 days and then a follow up is maintained for different phases. The
entire program is divided into five phases and each phase is objected to enhance
different aspects of managing a team and retaining them. Phases include
developing self-awareness of the managers, developing their skills, direct
interaction with the principal company and solving the painpoints related to HR
issues. The sessions are conducted by experts in different skills and segments
and are outsourced from third party.

Partners have to go through a nomination process and have to meet certain
criteria to get enrolled into the program.

Speaking on the benefits of the program, Rajesh Bakshi of Netlink Business
Systems who is enrolled into the first batch of the program mentioned that the
entire program is well designed and is beneficial for practical aspects of team
management.