Although 68 per cent of companies in India have formal strategies for women's advancement in place,these programmes lack elements crucial to their success,including metrics and indicators to measure their impact,according to a report. Catalyst's latest report on India Inc,2010 'India Benchmarking Report',also reveals leadership development programs essential to women¿s advancement rank lowest in availability and priority. Only 17 per cent of India-HQ (and 51 per cent of India-subsidiary) companies offered leadership development programs specifically for women. "Companies in India should strengthen women's advancement programmes if they wish to stay competitive in today's global economy. Programmes and policies alone are not enough,accountability matters too," said Nancy Carter,Senior VP,Research,Catalyst,and visiting scholar,INSEAD. "For these programmes to be effective,it's necessary to connect goals with results," Carter added. Less than 50 per cent of companies held managers accountable for meeting diversity targets through performance goals or links to bonus pay or compensation,the report said. In the area of mentoring,where reporting companies had relatively high rates of implementation,71 per cent with formal mentoring programmes,including 68 per cent with programmes for high-potential employees,only one-third reported tracking outcomes such as promotion and/or retention rates. Most India Inc companies (75 per cent) reported having flexible work programmes,but many failed to track utilisation of these programmes. Of companies offering flexible work programmes,few reported greater than 25 per cent utilisation,32 per cent of them reported greater than 25 per cent utilisation of flexible arrival and departure programmes. Eleven reported greater than 25 per cent utilisation of telecommuting programmes,and only 7 per cent reported greater than 25 per cent utilisation of reduced work/part-time work programmes. the report added. Fewer than 50 per cent of the companies surveyed reported holding managers accountable for aspects of diversity including retention of diverse talent (42 per cent),promoting diverse slates/appointments (32 per cent),or tracking the allocation of work assignments (20 per cent). Only 34 per cent of companies reported having gender training/development opportunities for men,it added. Founded in 1962,Catalyst is a leading non-profit membership organisation expanding opportunities for women and business.
