HR BUSINESS PARTNER

Do you sound the figure  of the HR Business Manager? If you have related to the Human Resources department, congratulations, you have right; but if you have related to the Direction Department… you were also successful. This new position is part of both.

The figure of the HR Business Partner was outlined by David Ulrich in his book Human Resource Champions and there are some companies that are starting to implement it. “This is a position that straddles the area of management and human resources,” says Emma de Llanos during a presentation at the event ExpoManagement 2012, which brings together leaders from around the world. Emma de Llanos is the director of the academic program “The new role of HR Business Partner”, by EADA Business School.

“While this is a very recent post, and although the model is not defined yet, we can say that the basic function of this figure is to be a partner in the management area, have a dual vision of business and human resources and know how to manage the benefit of the company. His work goes hand in hand with decentralization on human resources department, and its deepening integration into the management area, “says the speaker.

The internationalization of companies, new demographic challenges (aging population in Spain) and the crisis are key issues for corporate governance. One must know how to integrate groups of different nationalities and cultures, finding the best ones, motivate employees to work despite the instability faced by the crisis … In addition, the HR Business Partner should know the main areas of business, the company’s strategic vision and accompany the manager, both as a colleague as exercising coaching work.

Therefore, Emma tells, “the HR Business Partner must have a global vision and a set of skills such as leadership, customer focus and proactivity.” In fact, she says that what HR managers know most about, such as the adjustment of staff or salaries management will import less so in the future (report Creating People Advantage 2011 Boston Consulting Group and European Association for People Management ), however, their work will be more related to talent management and leadership, all as part of the transformation of the areas of human resources and integration in management areas of which we speak.

Many professionals will maybe be already exercising these tasks in their jobs. So perhaps the creation of this position by the companies is a necessary step for its recognition … Of course, it does not seem far-fetched. Will the HR Business Management be a key position in the business management of the future?