Better Management Through Better HR

Mr. Ulrich makes some interesting points about HR in today's economy. I have to agree with nearly all of them, but I don't think that he shed too much light on anything that he was asked. For example, the interviewer asked if HR is evolving & adapting in this recessionary environment. He stated the obvious answer, which is yes, and touched on the obvious, keeping employees happy, while managing to cut costs. This statement alone deserves a lot more attention. How do you do that without burning out your employees? Also, he didn't even touch on the technological aspects of evolving HR, and how many departments of HR will eventually be outsourced. In my opinion, the answer should have been more directed to HR as a department, not as a function of a company.

As a recruiter, I get to see the evolving HR department for many companies. More and more companies are using staffing agencies to due the recruiting and staffing of their employees. Many companies have outsourced their benefits department as well. As for the employment law issues of a company, most are handled by a lawyer or a company that is paid to do just that. What is left for HR to do, if many of the administrative functions have been outsourced? I feel that future HR managers will have to take on the role of business partners. These HR business partners will have a bigger stake in the actual function of the company. How they will combine the HR and business development is what will be what we have to look forward to as future HR managers.

When Mr. Ulrich was asked about the morale of employees vs. the morale of human resource management professionals, I wanted to ask Mr. Ulrich how HR management professionals are different from all other types of employees. Aren’t they under the same stresses that other employees are? I really liked how he discussed the 5 domains in keeping the morale of employees high. The 5 domains however, can be applied to all employees in all departments, across all industries.

Overall, Mr. Ulrich is right on in his responses to the questions, however, I feel like he could have answered more and gave more of his knowledge and experience.