AstraZeneca Annual Report and Form 20-F Information 2008

Learning and development

We encourage and support all our people in achieving their full potential with a range of high quality learning and development (L&D) opportunities around the world.

We are also in the process of adopting a new global approach, backed by the creation of a new global L&D organisation in 2008, which aims to ensure that standards of best L&D practice are consistently applied in the most efficient way. During 2008, we also introduced an online resource that will, in time, make L&D tools and programmes available to all employees, creating a common platform that increases access to learning and supports self-development across the organisation. Implementation of further online L&D resources will continue during 2009.

Our leadership development frameworks are focused on six core capabilities which we believe are essential for strong and effective leadership: passion for customers; strategic thinking; acting decisively; driving performance; working collaboratively; and developing people and the organisation. These capabilities apply to all employees and are used in performance management, talent management, staffing and selection at all levels.

To ensure we maintain a flow of effective leaders, we work to identify individuals with the potential for increasingly more senior and complex roles. These talent pools provide succession candidates for a range of leadership roles across the Company that are critical to our continued business success.