To achieve a sustainable competitive advantage, the social structure, organisational structure and individual's role need to synergistically tackle the environment of the next millennium, he said while inaugurating the first HR convention `Nirman '98' organised by the SIES College of Management Studies, Nerul, Navi Mumbai.

Meanwhile, the inter-collegiate case study competition for the SIES-Indian Express trophy organised by the SIES College was won by Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management. The Vivekananda Management College was placed second while Sydenham Management was third. Speaking on "Linking HR with business strategies", Ramachandran emphasised the importance of strategy in achieving business objectives. "A strategy should clearly define the why, what, how, when and whofor reaching to goal," he said.

As the competitor would also have a common goal, the success would depend on the effectiveness and innovativeness of the strategy one adopts, he added. Ramachandran cited the example of Philips Business Excellence model which was an analytical tool to evaluate the effectiveness of strategy.

George Kunnath, President of National HRD network, Bombay Chapter welcomed the delegates which comprised of over 200 corporate personnel and students from various institutions.