Human Resources Strategy and Change: Essentials of Business Partnership

Abstract

This contribution discusses the many perspectives on the so-called HR business partner, the partner to the client system. The author argues that the HR BP is a strategic consultant to clients, who can add value using deep insights into the activities of the organization, the environment, and the trends that will impact future performance. Knowledge of the client organization is important, as well as understanding of the economics of the operating and earning model, the potential risks for the organization and how to mitigate these risks, the way the components within HR operate to solve for issues, and last but not least the people component of the system: knowing the talents and developing a trusted advisor relationship with the key clients. The contribution closes by mentioning typical career pathing toward the strategic HR BP role and a number of the trends that will impact the organization and thus the nature of this (leading) support function in the next decade.