HR’s Smelly Fish

(The Conflict between HR Strategy

and HR Operations)

SHRM’s Symposium report reflects the emerging view about strategic human resources and is on the right track.  However, there is a “smelly fish” in the room, and we cannot continue to pretend it does not exist.  Regardless of its lofty ambitions, HR cannot focus just on strategic human resources.  We need to deal with this issue out in the open.

How are companies going to handle the HR operations activities dealing with transactions, administration, reporting, and compliance?  In most companies, this is where the HR rubber meets the road.  Can HR find people, hire them, pay them, move them, and keep them onboard and motivated?  We constantly disparage the HR operational activities by using emotionally loaded terms such as “upgrading” human resources.  The implication is that new strategic HR is exciting and good, whereas the HR operations function is old and boring.  Nevertheless, today’s  business needs HR’s help with the basics such as finding qualified staff, instilling customer service values, and curbing greedy executives, and creating ethical leadership.  In a globalized world, the greatest challenge will be talent acquisition, development, and retention.  However, HR must also take care of the basic nuts and bolts, even while taking on these exciting challenges in talent management, leadership development, and corporate governance,

It may be tempting to get rid of the HR headaches by tossing them all over the wall.  However, wholesale HR outsourcing is not a panacea despite its rapid growth.  Real concerns are starting to emerge, and in the end, HR remains responsible for supporting the business operations and ensuring the company’s compliance.

SHRM must to help HR reconcile the conflicting roles by providing a conceptual framework and promoting a vigorous debate.  Time for HR to get rid of the smelly fish! 

Notes: 

The “smelly fish” analogy was used by Professor J.B. Kassarjian during a client’s executive strategy session at IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland. 

The SHRM Symposium on the Future of Strategic HR is published by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). 

Susan Messinger, Esq., SPHR.  is President and CEO, Society For Human Resource (SHRM).