HR practitioners are increasingly required to understand how to strategically manage human resources in line with an organisation’s intended future direction. 

Explore our resources to discover factsheets and reports which cover strategic human resource management and how it differs from HR strategy. Also, find out about HR's role in business partnerships and how to develop best practice principles for the HR profession.

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Factsheets

Regularly-updated factsheets provide overviews and information on a topic

Six Factsheets about HR role
Factsheet
Business partnering
Learn why organisations use business partnering, how it’s implemented and how it can shape successful relationships across the organisation.
Factsheet
HR outsourcing
An overview of HR outsourcing, its use within organisations and its alternatives
For Members
Factsheet
Strategic human resource management
Understand how strategic HRM works, and its relationship with business strategy, human capital management and business performance
Factsheet
HR policies
An overview of the purpose and benefits of HR policies and how to implement and communicate them effectively throughout an organisation
Factsheet
HR shared services
Understand the principles of shared services, how they work, and the benefits they can bring to an organisation
For Members
Factsheet
HR and standards
Discover British and International standards in human resource management, and our role in their development
For Members

Guides

Designed for practitioners, our guides provide recommendations and advice on how to apply good practice in the workplace.

One Guide about HR role
Guide
Preparing your organisation for AI use
Guidance on how to prepare a user policy on generative AI for your workplace and how this technology can be used to support HR functions

Reports

Research and analysis by experts from CIPD and partner organisations

18 Reports about HR role
Report
People Profession 2023: International report
Insight into how global issues are impacting people professionals in the UK, Ireland, Asia-Pacific, MENA and Canada
Report
People Profession 2023: Asia-Pacific report
Insight into how global issues are impacting people professionals in Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore
Report
People Profession 2023: Middle East and North Africa report
Insight into how global issues are impacting people professionals in Egypt, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates
Report
People Profession 2023: A Canadian perspective
Insight into how global issues are impacting people professionals in Canada
Report
People Profession 2023: UK and Ireland report
Insight into how global issues are impacting people professionals in the UK and Ireland
Report
Putting people professionals on the road to net zero
Insight from senior leaders on how they have led responsibly and maintained trust and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic
Report
People Profession 2022: International survey report
Insight from senior leaders on how they have led responsibly and maintained trust and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic
Report
People Profession Survey: 2020 global results
This report, produced in partnership with the WFPMA, SHRM and AHRI, provides valuable international insights into the state of the profession
Report
People Profession 2030: a collective view of future trends
Drawing on collaborative research, our report explores the key trends influencing the future of work and how they will shape the people profession
Report
Talking about voice: Employees’ experiences
Highlights the key insights that people professionals should consider to drive better people management practice
Report
People analytics: driving business performance with people data
A global survey of multiple professional perspectives on people data and people analytics
Report
Building HR capability in small UK firms
An evaluation of the People Skills HR business support pilots programme
Report
HR professionalism: what do we stand for?
Explores the work identities of HR professionals and implications for principled decision-making
Report
Maximising impact as an HR professional in an SME
Reflections on the unique challenges and opportunities faced by HR professionals working in SMEs
Report
HR's role in the success of partnering arrangements
Provides practical guidance on how to deliver excellent people management beyond the organisation, to support the success of business partnering arrangements
Report
Real-life leaders: Closing the knowing-doing gap
Opens the debate on the barriers preventing organisations from getting closer to effective leadership
Report
The role of HR in corporate responsibility
A report examining the HR function's role in embedding corporate responsibility in all areas of the business
Report
Business savvy: giving HR the edge
The four foundations of business savvy, with an overview of what makes up business-savvy competence

Case studies

Learn from real world examples of how other people professionals and organisations work with the CIPD to approach key challenges and objectives.

Four Case studies about HR role
Case study
A day in the life of an HR officer
A day in the life of Jonathan Le Brocq, HR Officer at Garenne Group
Case study
A day in the life of an HR Vice President
A day in the life of Leslie Hayward, VP HR North East & South East Asia for Shell
Case study
A day in the life of an HR manager
A day in the life of Claire Wishart, HR Manager at Calnex Solutions
Case study
A day in the life of an HR adviser
A day in the life of Gina Keohane, HR Adviser at Ubisoft Leamington

Thought leadership

Insight and foresight from our experts in people and the world of work

13 Thought leadership about HR role
Thought leadership
Critical role of HR business partnering in HR operating models
How can people teams balance line managers’ need for operational people management support while growing their team’s strategic influence through the HRBP role?
Thought leadership
Analysis | Quantifying the impact of generative AI on HR
We examine and outline recent research investigating the impact of generative AI tools on the HR profession
Thought leadership
HR operating models
Our series on current practices, future models and successful transformations
Thought leadership
Do current HR operating models serve future needs?
We look at what’s driving change in HR structures, what emerging models look like and what to consider when evolving your current model
Thought leadership
‘Tech savvy’ HR practice
How does becoming ‘tech savvy’ improve your professional standing and the HR practice in your organisation?
Thought leadership
Optimising your operating models for the future
Natalie Sheils, Chief People Officer at Mosaic Group, explores ways to strengthen your operating models to thrive in a rapidly changing business landscape
Thought leadership
Bringing on the brain bots – a missed opportunity for HR?
Should HR be more involved in introducing or implementing intelligent automation?
Thought leadership
What monitoring is acceptable regarding remote workers?
This first article from our Technology, the workplace and people management series examines employers’ perspectives on monitoring remote workers
Thought leadership
Operating efficiently: Implementing HR information systems in SMEs
Practical insights from small and medium-sized enterprises on how HR information systems can be used to improve organisational efficiency and access to people data
Thought leadership
How can HR play a lead role in digital transformation in the workplace?
The expertise of people professionals can be leveraged to support their organisations and employees to navigate and implement technological change
Thought leadership
Surveillance in the ‘data-driven’ workplace: is this the new norm?
As Barclays hits the headlines for rolling out surveillance software to monitor employees, how can the people profession use its expertise to inform the application of workplace technology?
Thought leadership
Ethics and professionalism are intimate bedfellows
Laura Harrison investigates how we link professionalism with ethics in the workplace
Thought leadership
Changing HR operating models
A collection of thought pieces from lead thinkers, academics, practitioners and consultants on the future of the HR function

Podcasts

Listen to episodes from our podcast series on a range of topical workplace, HR and L&D issues.

Five Podcasts about HR role
Podcast
Ireland Podcasts
Listen to episodes from our CIPD Ireland Podcast Series on a range of topical workplace, HR and L&D issues
Podcast
HR People Pod
The CIPD's fortnightly podcast brings together top HRDs, CPOs and business leaders to look behind the news headlines and current topics impacting HR practices
Podcast
HR's next top operating model
Is the traditional HR operating model still fit-for-purpose or do we need to consider a new model?
Podcast
What value does HR bring to today's organisations?
Episode 185: Climate change, the rising cost of living and the global pandemic are just a few catalysts that have seemingly recast the HR role and expanded its remit. How should people functions evolve to add most value for organisations?
Podcast
Integrating HR and L&D
Episode 141: Integrating HR and L&D

Webinars

Webinar recordings providing expert guidance

Eight Webinars about HR role
Webinar
Independent HR consultants – how to adapt for turbulent times
Watch this video and explore where can employers raise their employee value propositions, and critically where should you start?
Webinar
CIPD Careers webinar: What I wish I’d known – HR Directors
Have ambitions of becoming a HR Director? Unpack candid reflections from our panel of HR directors and former CIPD aspiring HRD mentees
Webinar
New World? New Jobs and New Leadership with Paolo Gallo
Watch the webinar hosted by The European Association for People Management EAPM as part of the International HR day 2022
Webinar
In conversation with William Madden
Watch our CIPD Mid West Region webinar on the future of HR and the people profession
Webinar
Career paths in the people profession
Watch our webinar to hear first-hand from experienced professionals on the various career paths available in the people profession
Webinar
Breaking into the people profession
Expert advice and strategies to help you kickstart your career
Webinar
How COVID-19 has changed people management
Watch a video and download the slides from our webinar where experts discussed how to support people managers during this crisis, and what it means for the future
Webinar
HR wellbeing: looking after yourself and your HR teams
Watch our webinar where experts advise on protecting the health and well-being of people professionals

Bitesize research

Your regular overview of current research, inspiring insights and cutting-edge ideas in bitesize

15 Bitesize research about HR role
Bitesize research
Factors influencing ChatGPT adoption in the workplace
What are the barriers to the adoption of generative AI tools at work and how can they be overcome?
For Members
Bitesize research
How to start using AI as an HRM assistant
An exploration of how generative AI tools like ChatGPT can be used effectively to support human resource management
For Members
Bitesize research
Key elements of day-to-day HR practice
Researchers investigate the daily obstacles faced by HR practitioners when trying to work proactively rather than reactively
For Members
Bitesize research
HR practices: What are the trade-offs for employee wellbeing?
Examining the impact of HR practices on employee wellbeing
For Members
Bitesize research
Mick Marchington’s legacy on the shape of human resource management
A summary of the enormous impact of Marchington’s work on the evolution of human resource management
For Members
Bitesize research
From strategic to sustainable: considerations for people professionals
Six areas of practice people professionals need to consider for sustainable HRM
For Members
Bitesize research
The business impact of HR in small firms
What’s the business case for HR practices in SMEs?
For Members
Bitesize research
Strategic HR in small firms
What HR practices do small firms adopt, and why and how do they do adopt them?
For Members
Bitesize research
HR in turbulent times
Political and social upheaval call for localised people practices
For Members
Bitesize research
Has HR become too specialised?
Proximity and the (mis)management of workplace conflict
For Members
Bitesize research
Linking HR’s feminine image with board representation
Are HR board positions typically occupied by women?
For Members
Bitesize research
Big data and human resource management
Reviewing the current research on big data
For Members
Bitesize research
Building a more strategic role for HR
Explore how HR can become more strategic
For Members
Bitesize research
The end of human resources management?
Read more about the issues facing HRM
For Members
Bitesize research
A dynamic framework for development
Discover how strategic HR development can foster unique dynamic capabilities that enhance the capacity of oganisations to be compertitive in turbulent business environments
For Members

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