New ëFit for Businessí report helps public sector HR professionals develop a winning formula

HR plays a vital role in driving high performance and helping organisations meet targets, according to research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). A new report, published by the CIPD, sets out the building blocks needed to create a transformed HR function that will help organisations drive high performance and meet targets.

The new report ñ ëFit for Business II: Transforming HR in the Public Sectorí ñ was the focus at a recent conference where public sector HR professionals gained inspiration from Roger Black, Olympic 400 metre silver medallist and Olympic 4 x 400 metre gold medallist. Roger drew some sporting comparisons to HR when he said: ìthe most successful athletes are the individuals and teams who embrace change and are not content just to stick with one winning formula. If HR and organisations are to be excellent they must also embrace change and be prepared to do things differently. The themes in the new Fit for Business report chime very well with what sports people need to do to be successfulíí.

The report, written by David Vere and Lynne Butler of HR consultancy The Development Partnership is based on continuing research investigating the challenges public sector organisations face. It makes recommendations for public sector HR professionals to help overcome key challenges in their bid to achieve targets and compete against private sector organisations for talent. These include:

HR must identify the people issues that will make the greatest difference to business performance and treat them as a priority.

The HR reform agenda seems to neglect employee engagement ñ engaging employees is too important to the performance culture to be neglected.

A big issue for HR is still how to develop the skills and confidence to act strategically in areas such as business partnering, organisational development and change management.

HR needs to work more closely with senior managers to develop strong leadership and wider organisational talent.

Mike Emmott, CIPD Employee Relations Adviser says: ìHR professionals in the public sector will not succeed in making a more strategic impact on their own. The issues they need to tackle are organisational issues which demand the on-going attention of managers at the top as well as in the line.

ìHR needs to work with top management to identify key priorities and engage with internal customers in order to see that people management policies and practices are delivering high performance. Transforming HR is about delivering a high quality service that meets organisational needs and achieves results. î