Meeting great expectatations

With the transformation of many HR functions to play a more strategic role, Jan Hills asks: what are the essential technical skills needed to meet business expectations? 

In 2007 the CIPD report ‘The Changing HR Function’ found that 53% of organisations had restructured their HR function in the previous year and 81% had done so over the prior five years. This transformed HR model - whilst often described in structural terms - is about creating a function that has the skills and mindset to partner with the business to formulate and execute strategy. This puts demands on HR directors to equip their function in a way that was never required in the past.

The transformed model divides HR into three areas of responsibility and focus. These areas are: