Training for Hard-to-Reach Areas

This case study describes the training program formulated by Captain Dennis Eclarin, CEO of the Philippine MFI chain Hometown, to prepare its staff for working in hard-to-reach areas.

The training was designed as a boot camp program for new staff to inculcate the attitude, character and commitment required to work in isolated areas. The components of the curriculum, patterned after the methodologies used in management institutes and military academies, included the following:

• Lectures on functional areas of management;
• Role playing exercises;
• Skills Olympics and hands-on training in information systems;
• Screening of films followed by discussions;
• Physical and team-building exercises;
• Confidence-building activities;
• Buddy system based on mutual support;
• Rating by trainers and peers.

The case includes an epilogue that follows some of the participants into their assignments after the training, and shares their views on how the program helped them face the challenges of working in hard-to-reach areas.