Download Conclusion
It is customary to finish a research report with a conclusion. For this report, however, we are closing with "new beginnings." That's partly a reference to the fact that this report will be periodically updated as new research is conducted. But it's also a reference to the fact that the HR profession itself is at a critical juncture during which it's embarking on new beginnings.
Never has the quality of talent mattered more to the success of our organizations. This reports provides a starting point for HR professionals who wish to better understand the ongoing transformation of the HR function.
Each section of this report includes specific top takeaways. Here we offer several broad insights that might help set HR on its future path.
Start by Gaining a Solid Grasp of Business Transformation and its Impact on The Workforce
Fueled largely by digital advancements, business models and work paradigms are rapidly changing. Bureaucracies are giving way to structures that put decision making power where it belongs: in the hands of highly empowered front-line teams. But to make this system work, employees must be in possession of the right skills, motivations and resources, and HR is largely responsible for making sure they have what they need.
Overhaul HR Systems Wherever Required
HR professionals tend to see a lot of room for the improvement of today's talent management systems. They need to take a fresh look at the systems they use to attract, develop and retain our workforces. Find the best systems for your organization. Work with colleagues and vendors to and then get the most out of those systems. They are the tools of HR's trade. HR will also need to continually evaluate the payoff of such technologies, shedding ones that are not meeting expectations.
Balance Intuition With Data-Driven Insight
A combination of artificial intelligence and analytics will help HR to become considerably better at its job over time. HR professionals must learn more about AI and analytics, including how they can best be leveraged. Although human judgment will still take precedence in the field of HR, the decisions you make and the effort you invest should more and more be guided by data. Predictive analytics will be especially important as a tool to help HR make the right talent choices for the future.
Step Up or Step Off
The team you have today probably lacks some of the skills needed to thrive in tomorrow's HR function. Deploy your expertise at talent planning. Apply it to your HR staff, carefully thinking through success profiles for the future and where there are major gaps. Close these gaps. You'll need to develop and hone the skill sets of your HR team, of course, and you'll likely need to hire new team members with skills that complement those of current staff. Paramount skills will include strategic thinking, analytic capabilities, and high-tech proficiencies.
We wish our HR colleagues the best of luck as they reinvent the HR function. If we at HR.com can ever be of assistance to you, please feel free to contact us. Our mandate is to help you do your job better!
