個案資料

SAP’s global approach of Pledge to Flex was the foundation for hybrid working for its employees. The approach empowers employees to balance when, how, and where they work best, considering business requirements and local legislation. The organization’s people leaders co-developed a model with their team that considers customer and partner-specific needs. The case also describes SAP’s strategic move in establishing the Future of Work (FoW) organization to continually evaluate and innovate in this direction. The case raises the following questions: How does a large multinational company with a research and development centre in India decide on a hybrid model? How does a large multinational with a presence in several countries introduce a change plan conceived in the global corporate office, what are the challenges to this approach, and will it impact people’s experience and turnover? How much customization should be allowed? Will the true shift come with frequent assessment, experimentation, and application as per the changing needs?

This case is ideally suited for graduate and post-graduate courses focused on human capital strategies, leadership, change management, and organizational culture. It also provides a nuanced understanding of the evolving FoW. The case offers valuable insights into the complexities of implementing flexible work models in a multinational setting, making it particularly relevant for students aspiring to leadership roles in global organizations. The case is also well-suited for executive education programs, where seasoned professionals can explore the strategic dimensions of workforce management in a rapidly evolving landscape. After working through the case and assignment questions, students will be able to do the following:<ul><li>Understand the different components of flexible working–flexible location, flexible time, and flexible workplace, and how the company introduced required trade-offs.</li><li>Examine the role of various stakeholders—leaders, managers, and employees—in deciding the flexible work model.</li><li>Understand the impact of global guidance of a parent corporate firm and its impact on designing local policies.</li><li>Explore contexts that influence decisions on the team level in choosing an internal Future of team.</li><li>Consider a variety of challenges faced in designing the working model.</li><li>Understand trends, for example, strategic moves such as establishing a Future of Work organization.</li><li>Consider theories and concepts such as Jay Galbraith’s Star ModelTM, stages of team development, psychological safety, global integration vs. local responsiveness framework, two-factor theory, and the awareness, desire, knowledge, ability, and reinforcement (ADKAR) model of change.</li></ul>

• Hybrid Work Model
• Pledge to Flex
• Future of Work
• Organizational Culture
• HR Leadership
• Change Management
• Global Guidelines
• SAP Labs India