A New Platform for the HR Function

A New Platform for the HR Function [FP10]
*HR Shared Service Centre Strategy*
Do HR Shared Services create more efficient delivery, and do managers and employees want it?
This report addresses such questions as: What are shared HR services? Why introduce them? What benefits are obtained? What are the challenges? What model should be used? What are the issues for HR staff? What is the experience so far?
Research findings from Peter Reilly, Principal Research Fellow at the Institute for Employment Studies, cover aspects such as aligning with organisational change, the role of technology, the issues arising from implementation and the choices to be made.
Lynn Hanford-Day, at Unisys and the Prudential, describes a model which implies a three way organisation of HR resources, in terms of: Business Partners A centre of expertise A centre for administration processing. Mike Peachey at Powergen describes the key features of a service where the "user is chooser" and Shared Services have to find their own customers! The report illustrates that there is no single template for the implementation of HR Shared Services; that there is no easy solution. But we need to understand the critical business drivers and the needs of customers. [S11 ~ 2001 ~ 17 pps]
*HR Business Partners - The Model*
The role of business partners is critical to the success of the business and the whole HR organisation and strategy. The credibility of HR, whatever model the function chooses to operate, depends largely on the particular role chosen by business partners and the way they relate to the business. This report addresses: the various models and roles of HR business partners the issues for the business, the HR Director and the implications for the HR community. Andrew Mayo, human resource management author, consultant and Programme Director at the London Business School provides an overview of the positioning of HR, Business Partners in action, HR roles, HR strategy, building bridges into the business agenda and developing the capability. Steve Barker, former HR Director of Abbey Life, provides a case study on the challenges, the model used and how they went about it in the company. With examples of business partner roles – in Leading, Collaborating, Supporting and Managing roles – and conclusions and the issues to action. [S12a ~ 2002 ~ 11 pps]

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