Market Trends

Employment Trends for 2009-2010:
Focus on Technology

Managers:
Staying Ahead of the Curve

Managers at high tech firm Ubisoft have found a way to keep their workforce at the top of their game. What’s their secret?

By Hélèna Katz
[ 2009-03-02 ]

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Photo: Ubisoft

As a leader in interactive entertainment, with games like Splinter Cell and Assassin’s Creed, Ubisoft has been leaping over tall buildings since its inception in France in 1986. When their Montreal studio opened in 1997, it had less than 100 employees. By 2008, that number was 1,800, with another 200 in Quebec City.

While the company’s growth has been exponential, the same can be said for the advancements in their field. “We’re in an industry where technology evolves quickly,” says Tristan Tassé, training manager for Ubisoft Montreal. The challenge for the company is not just keeping up with hires, but ensuring that existing staff stay current.

Presentations

Ubisoft stays ahead of the curve using in-house expert presentations, including taped interviews with industry leaders, and an annual two-week mini-conference. Information-sharing among peers is also encouraged. For example, a lighting expert may share a specialized technique learned or developed while working on a recent project.

Mentorships

Mentorships are Ubisoft’s latest baby. A junior staff member is teamed up with an employee who has expertise in a specific area, but is not part of the newbie’s project team. “If [the junior person] is working on a complex animation, he can ask for help. In that context, the coach can give him a hand,” Tassé explains. Not having an employee’s “coach” on the same team allows the mentor to focus specifically on their apprentice’s needs.


Mini-MBA

Ubisoft also offers an 80-hour “mini-MBA” for its managers in collaboration with the Université de Montréal’s business school, HEC Montréal. “The idea is to give our young managers the means to deal with management issues that are particular to this industry,” Tassé says. That includes learning to switch gears from being part of a small, close-knit team to being the boss. Follow-up includes an opportunity for newly minted managers to meet and discuss how they applied the concepts they learned in class.

In addition to keeping staff on the cutting edge, Tassé says the company’s training opportunities help motivate and retain personnel. “In an industry where the career opportunities are plentiful, it’s important for Ubisoft to offer employees a stimulating environment,” he says.

Does the fast-pace of the high tech sector have you struggling to keep pace? Read more:

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