A world-class steel maker, Tata Steel had a couple of years ago, launched a programme to provide directional and process related signs across the Jamshedpur Steel Works. However, many of them cannot be read by about 3,000 of its workmen and scores of contract workmen. Also, in the last few years the Company’s business processes have been computerized to make them more efficient. For Tata Steel to bring to fruition its spectacular growth plans, it is imperative that the Company ensures that the productivity of its employee is enhanced through “a higher standard of performance,” the Managing Director, Mr B Muthuraman is of the opinion. Therefore, each and every employee must necessarily not only be literate but also computer literate. Tata Steel, therefore, launched a computer-based functional literacy programme for its employees after a pilot project in a few departments.

In 40 hours over 30 days, this programme, developed by Tata Consultancy Services, ensures that a person is capable of reading and writing in the language of instruction. The Company’s departments have been asked to identify those in need of assistance and register them for the programme.

In the last few years, Tata Steel has challenged the frontiers of software application. It has not only computerised business processes to make them more efficient and responsive but also uploaded software such as Employee Self Service, Mailing Services, Directory Services, Library Service, Complaint Handling System and the like on its Intranet. For employees to reap advantages such as convenience of use and managing their needs through these programme they need to have access to a computer, and equally importantly be able to use it.

Company employees are expected to greatly benefit from the programme