Human resources as_a_strategic_partner

Human Resources as a Human Resources as a Strategic PartnerStrategic Partner

Fred LaquintaFred LaquintaAtlantiCare AtlantiCare

January 2004January 2004

How is H.R. Strategic?How is H.R. Strategic?

Must impact one or more corporate goals -Must impact one or more corporate goals -

• Build competitive advantage.Build competitive advantage.

• Increase revenues or cut costs.Increase revenues or cut costs.

• Increase market share.Increase market share.

How is H.R. Strategic?How is H.R. Strategic?

• Improve customer service, product, Improve customer service, product, quality.quality.

• Reduce product time to market.Reduce product time to market.

• Increase productivity.Increase productivity.

• Increase shareholder/stakeholder value.Increase shareholder/stakeholder value.

An Example at AtlantiCareAn Example at AtlantiCare

1.1. Equitable health careEquitable health care

2.2. Promote health of populationsPromote health of populations

3.3. Best in classBest in class

4.4. Integrate the systemIntegrate the system

5.5. Financial strengthFinancial strength

How H.R. Will RespondHow H.R. Will Respond

1.1. Equitable health careEquitable health care Cultural diversityCultural diversity

2.2. Promote health of populationsPromote health of populations Wellness initiativeWellness initiative

3.3. Best in classBest in class BaldrigeBaldrige Fortune 100 best companiesFortune 100 best companies

How H.R. Will RespondHow H.R. Will Respond

4.4. Integrate the systemIntegrate the system Flatter organizationFlatter organization

5.5. Financial strengthFinancial strength Spend dollars wisely on good programs.Spend dollars wisely on good programs.

Now That You Have Defined It, Now That You Have Defined It, What Do You Do?What Do You Do?

Operationalize the definition.Operationalize the definition.

Assess your response using the following Assess your response using the following common elements.common elements.

Common ElementsCommon Elements

1. Increase productivity and profit.

Provide programs and services that result in Provide programs and services that result in measurable increase in employee productivity.measurable increase in employee productivity.

Build a strong business case outlining its dollar Build a strong business case outlining its dollar impact.impact.


2. External focus

Redistribute H.R. budget and time allocation.Redistribute H.R. budget and time allocation.

Look at your calendar.Look at your calendar.

Prioritize customers.Prioritize customers.

Add, cutback, eliminate H.R. programs basedAdd, cutback, eliminate H.R. programs basedon ROI.on ROI.

Track shifts in external environment.Track shifts in external environment.


3. Build a performance culture that ensures that managers, management systems, measures and rewards work in unison.


4. Provide competitive advantage.

We Do/They DoWe Do/They Do

People programs whose output or results are People programs whose output or results are superior to competitors.superior to competitors.


5. Fact-based decisions

Utilize metrics.Utilize metrics.

Proactively identify potential problems.Proactively identify potential problems.

Discount opinions.Discount opinions.


6. Business focus

Ensure programs and efforts focus on the Ensure programs and efforts focus on the

business rather than (Internal) H.R. issuesbusiness rather than (Internal) H.R. issues..


7. H.R. should build a brand.

Great place to workGreat place to work

Employer of choiceEmployer of choice

Need for stable fundingNeed for stable funding


8. Technology permeates everything.

Cornerstone of all we doCornerstone of all we do

MetricsMetrics

PaperlessPaperless

24/7 manager and employee24/7 manager and employeeself serveself serve

Thinking Strategically is a Goal Thinking Strategically is a Goal but Rememberbut Remember

““H.R. is a tool, not an objective.”H.R. is a tool, not an objective.”

The most effective H.R. programs are The most effective H.R. programs are those not seen as H.R. programs.those not seen as H.R. programs.

But the “Real World” DictatesBut the “Real World” Dictates

It is difficult to have a strategic impact on payroll It is difficult to have a strategic impact on payroll or benefits administration.or benefits administration.

Even if your job isn't strategic, thinking Even if your job isn't strategic, thinking strategically can improve focus on your strategically can improve focus on your programs.programs.

Think like a CEO. Think like a CEO.

Wayne Tarken, SPHR HR/CEO Roundtable Chair

Wayne Suggests You….Wayne Suggests You…. Run department like a business unit.Run department like a business unit.

Know department’s strengths and weaknesses.Know department’s strengths and weaknesses.

Know what Know what youyou can and cannot do given your can and cannot do given your talent.talent.

Understand realities of politics and resources.Understand realities of politics and resources.

Delegate whenever possible.Delegate whenever possible.

The Tipping PointThe Tipping Point

The phenomenon underlying social, The phenomenon underlying social, cultural and financial epidemicscultural and financial epidemics

What qualities make a trend tip into an What qualities make a trend tip into an epidemic?epidemic?

How can you cause a tipping point in how How can you cause a tipping point in how people view H.R?people view H.R?Gladwell, Malcolm. The Tipping Point. New York: Little, Brown and Company,

First Back Bay paperback edition, January 2002

So Now What?So Now What?

Go Back to your office and –Go Back to your office and –

Be more hands-on “the business”, less hands-on Be more hands-on “the business”, less hands-on “the people.”“the people.”

Seek diverse points of view.Seek diverse points of view.

Drive unified action.Drive unified action.

Promote experimentation, take chances if your Promote experimentation, take chances if your organization allows it.organization allows it.

Lee Hecht Harrison – “Leadership at the Core and on the Edge” Newsletter, 2003

Your Challenge - FlexibilityYour Challenge - Flexibility Consider the Panda.Consider the Panda.

You may be uncomfortable or scared.You may be uncomfortable or scared.

It is mentally easier not to change.It is mentally easier not to change.

Without flexibility we are restricted to our box.Without flexibility we are restricted to our box.

Inflexibility is the major barrier to change and growth.Inflexibility is the major barrier to change and growth.

Be open – thoughts, behaviors, feelingsBe open – thoughts, behaviors, feelings

CD Stewart – ” Behavioral Observations” - Newsletter, 11/25/01

Questions or CommentsQuestions or Comments

Education

Human resources as_a_strategic_partner