Strategic Role of Human Resources

Strategic Role of HR

Human Resources (HR) has a strategic role in any company. Strategic HR presents new challenges that HR departments currently do not use today, the challenge of managing workforce productivity. HR can not merely be a support function to succeed. HR provides a competitiveness that increases throughout the years. Initially HR has been considered a personnel function, dealing with everyday aspects of personnel including things such as, hiring training, and equal opportunity employment issues. (Dunn) These are all very important to human resources, but to be at a strategic level, the HR department must take these areas and focus them in a proactive way to benefit the business. When all other areas are equal, it will be the people who make the difference between companies and it is strategic HR that can make that difference. (Boudreau) The strategy comes into play by effectively and efficiently hiring and placing personnel so they are in positions most effective with their abilities and training. When personnel are hired, placed, and moved without consideration to what the organization needs to build its success the strategic role of HR is lost.

Business Operations and HR

As HR continues to gain strategic influence, leaders have to expand their understanding of HR and move past the basic fundamentals they consider to be the HR profession. (Boudreau) When it comes to operations, HR must be concerned with things at all levels. At the lowest level, they must ensure that employees understand that their productivity is what will keep them employed and ensure they have the training to be productive. At management levels, they need to show how HR can and will help deliver business results by providing productive employees. (Dunn)

Human resources must begin with the business and its needs. HR professionals continue to strive to be more lucrative players within business to show their capabilities and worth within the company. The...