Dive Brief:
- A Society for Human Resource Management network and Willis Towers Watson have announced a new research initiative to examine the shaping of tomorrow’s HR executives.
- The research will be based on one-on-one interviews with chief human resource officers (CHROs), chief executive officers, corporate board members, C-suite executives, academics and regional think tanks with CHROs; it also will include a pulse survey of HR executives across all industries, according to the announcement.
- The research will look at various issues relating to the future of HR executives, including: how businesses of all sizes position their talent and culture to meet an accelerating digital world; the experiences, knowledge, skills and behaviors required of HR executives to drive business strategy and growth; how HR can become the hub of a larger work ecosystem; and the game-changing issues that HR executives face. An in-depth report on the findings is expected this fall.
Dive Insight:
HR has been experiencing a mindset shift "to make organizations more people-centric and not tactical,” Tenia Davis, chief people officer at tech firm Raise, previously told HR Dive. This has included title shifts, from the traditional (VP of Human Resources, Senior Vice President of Human Capital) to a more people-centric approach (Cultural Evangelist, Chief Happiness Officer or even Mood Coordinator).
Additionally, technology is helping HR professionals transition away from purely administrative tasks and roles to become true human capital management strategists for their organizations. This dovetails nicely with increased leadership demands for skills critical to innovation, including data analytics and artificial intelligence.
The increased attention from CEOs presents an opportunity for talent professionals, who are uniquely positioned to have a significant impact on business performance, according to Randstad Sourceright. Because business leaders are increasingly concerned about the global economy, organizations now see talent as the key to value creation, Randstad said in a recent statement.
Employers must be people-centric to gain an advantage in the war for talent, according to L.J. Brock, chief people Officer at financial services company Citadel: "The HR role has evolved to think more holistically around an ecosystem that attracts, nurtures and plays into culture more."