DiscussHR in the news.... interesting trends in HR Transformation
Posted April 9th, 2010 by DiscussHR
in
HRM Today reports.. 'HR Survey Highlights Skills Gap in HR. The biggest barrier to transforming Human Resources is the lack of appropriate skills in HR, according to the 2008 Global HR Transformation Report (conducted by HROA in association with ADP). This is the 5th annual survey with 129 executives around the globe in varying stages of HR Transformation.
The survey defines HR Transformation as – “any concerted effort to change and improve HR operations, whether through outsourcing, shared services, internal reengineering, or a combination of these strategies”.
We use a broader definition. Successful HR Transformation needs to align all the components in the HR operating model including Business Partners, Service Centres, Centres of Excellence, HR Strategy, Managers and Employees. Sometimes there is too much emphasis on implementing Shared Services or HR Outsourcing at the expense of actually delivering the HR Strategy. (see comments by Jason Geller “HRO does not equal HR Transformation”)
The survey points to some interesting trends in HR Transformation :-
“The biggest ‘chronic hurdle’ that impedes transformation is the skills of existing HR staff.”
This is cited by over 60% of respondents. The skills needed to manage HR are very different to the skills needed to transform HR. The survey doesn’t mention which skills, but experience is required in Change Management, Process Design, Organisation Design, Project Management, Business Case Management, and HR Technology. So what can you do? Consider these steps before starting your HR Transformation project, utilise transformation experience in other areas of your organisation and use HR professionals as ‘content’ owners.
“Most organisations are meeting or exceeding their cost savings targets.”
Sounds impressive, but of course this depends on what the cost savings targets are. Some projects aim to break even, but allocate a larger proportion of their cost to strategic objectives rather than administration.
“Past HR Transformation lessons don’t appear to filtering out.”
Each organisation will have different goals, a different workforce and different starting points. But there are themes and lessons learned – so why aren’t they being shared in this digital age of collaboration? Joining networks such as the HROA help. Conferences are dominated by vendor/sponsors rather than providing HR transformers with real ‘independent’ lessons learned. With more sharing and online networking things should improve, see for example initiatives such as our own HR Transformer Blog and DiscussHR.'