In this episode of the HR on the Offensive podcast, Chris, LACE CEO Cathy Acratopulo and guest Melanie Steel, one of HR Magazine’s most influential for 2024, delve into how different business drivers shape HR operating models. These drivers include agility, customer intimacy, growth, and productivity. This is part of our Demystifying the HR Operating Model campaign read more here.
Cathy explains that a one-size-fits-all model doesn’t work, as HR must align with the specific needs and goals of the business. For example, an organisation focusing on rapid growth would require an HR model capable of scaling with that growth, while an organisation concerned with customer intimacy would prioritise aligning HR with customer outcomes.
Melanie highlights the importance of tailoring HR operating models to fit specific business contexts. She notes that businesses often run into issues when trying to apply HR models from other departments, like finance, without accounting for HR’s unique requirements. She cautions against using overly generic models, as this can result in challenges like insufficient support for managers.
The discussion also touches on the challenges of change management within HR. Melanie highlights the need for continuous improvement, stressing that while major transformations shouldn’t occur frequently, HR should evolve to meet the changing demands of the business. This includes improving HR capabilities, leveraging data for decision-making, and maintaining a balance between cost efficiency and employee experience.
Listen now to learn the necessity of aligning HR strategies with broader business objectives and the importance of adaptability.
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