Siemens 2012 Annual Report Download - page 78

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We’re mastering the major challenges of our time, continu-
ously breaking new ground and making technology history.
But these achievements are only possible because we have
outstanding employees who – through their expertise, abilities
and dedication – have made our Company the global power-
house that it is today. That’s why lifelong learning, continuous
personal development and the fostering of diversity and
employee commitment are the foundations of our employee
and management culture.
Employees –
The source of our strength
Siemens is only as strong as its employees. We expect
outstanding performance from our people. In return, we
support them in unleashing their full potential.
Our employees’ creativity and pioneering spirit are the source
of our strength. To build on this foundation and grow even
further, we have to attract and retain the best minds in the
world. By providing them with additional opportunities to
increase their expertise, we also create an atmosphere of trust
and constructive cooperation that enables us to break down
professional, linguistic and national barriers throughout our
organization.
To outperform our competitors in the global battle for talent,
we’re partnering with the most prestigious universities in
the world’s most important markets. Our Siemens Graduate
Program, for example, provides top university graduates with
an ideal springboard for launching their professional careers.
We give these young talents – and all Siemens employees –
the chance to continuously develop their capabilities, master
new challenges and assume ever-greater responsibility. As
part of our educational offerings, we’ve set up uniform Core
Leaning Programs worldwide to make cooperation within our
integrated technology company even more effective by en-
hancing employee knowhow in key areas like project man-
agement, software development, procurement and human
resources. Our central intranet education portal alone offers
our global workforce more than , business-oriented
courses and programs.
Our employees are as diverse as the customers we serve – all
around the world. People from some  different countries
work at our ten largest Regional Companies alone. Our employ-
ees’ diverse languages, cultures and religions are a source of
great strength. Multi-cultural teams with a broad range of
expertise and perspectives promote the wealth of ideas within
our Company and enhance our power of innovation.
To foster diversity throughout our organization, we’ve launched
our Diversity Initiative, which bundles targeted measures and
projects for ensuring and further enhancing diversity at all levels
of our Company. Examples include our global network of about
 Siemens Diversity Ambassadors, who identify diversity issues
Company-wide, and our Global Leadership Organization of
Women (GLOW). To help our employees better understand one
another, we’ve also established intercultural training programs
and initiatives aimed at eliminating unconscious prejudices.
With their wide array of
skills, experience and qualifications,
our people give us a decisive
competitive edge in the global arena.