14-07-09 Only 1 in 4 HR managers is acknowledged as a change agent
Human Resources barely gets recognized as a change agent in troubled times
In its first semester after being launched, 258 respondents completed the Acerta HR GPS®. Although the current economic crisis had not actually manifested itself when the Acerta GR GPS® was first launched (June 2008), it seems most HR managers sensed trouble ahead. Almost 7 out of 10 (68.2%) organisations who completed the Acerta GR GPS®, had been involved in some sort of organisational change prior to being surveyed.
While one could say that today’s turbulent situation demands strong human resource management – especially with what pertains to Talent Management, legal knowledge and trade union relationships – only 24.5% of HR departments believe their organisation acknowledges them as valid change agents. More than that, there seems to be no mention whatsoever of any kind of proactive role in the change process. This being a conclusion drawn from the fact that almost half of the respondents (49.2%) agrees with the proposition that HR’s contribution with regard to change, is limited to assessing potential consequences for employees.
The strength of today’s HRM seems to be in the ‘classic HR roles.’ The role ‘administrative expert’ gets a score of 7.82/10, for ‘employee champion’ this is 6.79/10. Naturally the ‘basis’ (= operational HR roles) needs to be answered to before strategic roles can be taken on. That being said, a long way still needs to be travelled. The role ‘change agent’ gets a score of 5.60/10; ‘strategic partner’ gets a score of 5.58/10.
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