People management – a pharmacokinetic view

People often ask how a pharmacy graduate fits into the corporate realm. Whenever faced with this question I am always quick to point out that I was among the first ones to have a pharmaceutical marketing course in the curriculum, essentially laying down the foundation for my practice. 

I can’t say the same however when it comes to human resources management. As far as I can recall, anatomy and physiology courses were the closest topics I have come to studying people. But thinking really about it, I find that one of the core concepts of pharmacy fit the discipline very well. Such is the case of pharmacokinetics. Pharmacokinetics is the study of what happens to the drug as it goes through the body. It outlines the basic ADME process taking snapshots of the drug as it is Absorbed, Distributed, Metabolized and Excreted (sometimes reabsorbed) in the body. 

In today’s fast-phased workplace, HR managers often find themselves caught in a whirlpool of turnovers hindering the steady operation of their businesses. 

This makes people management more important than ever before. Looking at the pill as the employee and the body as the organization we find ourselves faced with a framework (ADME) that may be helpful in the management of people.

Absorption is the process of a substance entering the body. Not all drugs, however, are necessarily absorbed. It takes both penetration and permeation of the drug before we can actually call it absorption. Only when the drug is in a certain form can it be absorbed into the body the same way that employees need to have the right credentials before being admitted into a company. Having people with the necessary credentials are vital to the company’s success. More so, it is important to ask yourselves if the people are truly absorbed. Are they just putting in the hours? Or have they become an integral part of the workplace? Do they merely follow rules and procedures? Or do they live and breathe your company’s values?

Distribution is the dissemination of substances throughout the fluids and tissues of the body. Employees like drugs are also distributed and usually become part of a team, a division, or a department. The usual challenge appears to be finding the best fit for the person and the job. This is a very delicate task that is not only limited to employee-job compatibility but includes assigning the right teammates and the right mentor for each individual.

Metabolism is the irreversible transformation of parent compounds into daughter metabolites. Employees themselves are also transformed inside the organization. Metabolism symbolizes the journey of the person’s career inside the company. The manager must strive to understand employees’ capabilities and aspirations, determine their potential and chart a plan for their careers in the future. Vertical and horizontal growth needs to be considered in order to help each person attain full capacity in the organization.

Excretion is the elimination of substances from the body. At some point, the employee leaves the company be it planned or unplanned. There are also times when the employees become re-absorbed with new employment contracts or perhaps work through their transition as consultants. It is important that we continue to manage people at this point. Not only showing keen interest during their hiring but with separation and retirement as well.

This view provides managers with a simple yet comprehensive outline in dealing with people as they move into, up, and out of the organization. Each stage poses a unique challenge for the manager, requiring utmost focus on each person, demanding careful attention, analysis and action.

The author has been with the pharmaceutical industry as a marketing executive for more than 12 years. He is currently a student in the Doctor of Business Administration program of the De La Salle University-Manila Ramon V. Del Rosario Sr. Graduate School of Business. 

from Managing for Society Column Manila Times (Print & Web Editions), December 23, 2008 Enrique Antonio B. Reyes, RPh, MBA