HR roles and their definitions
Dave Ulrich
Source: Ulrich, D. 1997. Human Resource Champions. Harvard Business School Press.
2014/3/9
1
The New Roles for HR professionals
• Characteristic changes in HR function
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2014/3/9
Operational to strategic
Qualitative to quantitative
Policing to partnering
Short-term to long-term
Administrative to consultative
Functionally oriented to business oriented
Internally focused to externally and customer-focused
Reactive to proactive
Activity-focused to solutions-focused
2
HR Roles in
Building a Competitive Organization
Future/Strategic Focus
Management of
Strategic Human
Resources
Management of
Transformation &
Change
Processes
People
Management of
Firm Infrastructure
Management of
Employee
Contribution
Day-to-day/Operational Focus
2014/3/9
3
Definition of HR Roles
Role/Cell
Deliverable/
Metaphor
Activity
Outcome
Management of
Strategic Human
Resources
Executing
strategy
Strategic Partner
Aligning HR &
business strategy:
Organizational
diagnosis
Management of Firm
Infrastructure
Building an
efficient
infrastructure
Administrative
Expert
Reengineering
Organization
Processes: Shared
services
Management of
Increasing
employee
commitment &
capability
Employee Contribution
Management of
Transformation &
Change
2014/3/9
Creating a
renewed
organization
Employee champion Listening &
responding to
Employees:
Providing resources
to employees
Change Agent
Managing
transformation &
change: Ensuring
capacity for change
4
HR Roles in building a competitive
organization: shared responsibility
Future/Strategic Focus
External Consultant 3
Line managers 5
Line managers 4
HR 5
HR 3
Processes
People
Corporate HR 5
HR 2
Line managers 6
Outsource 3
Information Technology 2
2014/3/9
Employees 2
Day-to-day/Operational Focus
5