HR roles and their definitions

Dave Ulrich

Source: Ulrich, D. 1997. Human Resource Champions. Harvard Business School Press.

2014/3/9 1
 The New Roles for HR professionals
Characteristic changes in HR function
Operational to strategic
Qualitative to quantitative
Policing to partnering
Short-term to long-term
Administrative to consultative
Functionally oriented to business oriented
Internally focused to externally and customer-focused
Reactive to proactive
Activity-focused to solutions-focused

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 HR Roles in
Building a Competitive Organization
Future/Strategic Focus

Management of Management of
Strategic Human Transformation &
Resources Change

Processes People

Management of
Management of
Employee
Firm Infrastructure Contribution

Day-to-day/Operational Focus
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 Definition of HR Roles
Role/Cell Deliverable/ Metaphor Activity
Outcome
Management of Executing Strategic Partner Aligning HR &
Strategic Human strategy business strategy:
Resources Organizational
diagnosis
Management of Firm Building an Administrative Reengineering
Infrastructure efficient Expert Organization
infrastructure Processes: Shared
services
Management of Increasing Employee champion Listening &
Employee Contribution employee responding to
commitment & Employees:
capability Providing resources
to employees
Management of Creating a Change Agent Managing
Transformation & renewed transformation &
Change organization change: Ensuring
capacity for change
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 HR Roles in building a competitive
organization: shared responsibility
Future/Strategic Focus
External Consultant 3
Line managers 5

Line managers 4

HR 5 HR 3

Processes People
HR 2
Corporate HR 5
Line managers 6
Outsource 3

Information Technology 2 Employees 2

2014/3/9
Day-to-day/Operational Focus 5