The co-production of knowledge is important to the Centre. Centre researchers and the HR strategy teams of seven organisations have co-written chapters based on the key HR issues and responses made by these strategy teams. The forthcoming book on Leading HR for Palgrave Macmillan is due to be released in the April 2010.
Leading HR
Nobody needs telling how tough today’s business environment is for HR directors. Outsourcing, pressure on costs and the rise of human capital accounting represent only part of an increasingly complex strategic contribution HR makes to business. The stakes have been rising. With added responsibilities and recognition have come increasing pressures to account for added value.
Unlocking and understanding what strategy is within businesses, and understanding the business and people models put in place to underpin strategic execution and delivery, lies at the heart of Leading HR. We have used this phrase to signal three things:
1. there are a range of business issues that are leading HR into new roles and new contributions.
2. there are some leading HR processes and practices that are highly embedded in the business, not just technically sophisticated in HR terms, that can assist in the meeting of this business challenge
3. but both of the above are highly dependent upon leading HR as a capability within the organisation – notably the leadership provided by HR Directors but also as evidenced by other key players throughout the business. What skills does such leadership require? What business languages does HR need to be fluent in? How can their social and political capital be used at boardroom-level to influence strategic implementation?
The Centre brings together a confidential, unique and powerful community of executive HR function directors working both individually and in collaboration with leading Lancaster faculty.
This community of practice, brought together in a way only Lancaster knows how, enables Centre members to share their expertise as well as accessing the experience and knowledge belonging to other Centre members.
Directors have access to world-class research projects shaped by themselves, Chatham House style seminars during which key HR issues facing those charged with leading the performance of HR in their organisations are discussed, shared and resolved in a way for which Lancaster is recognised as being in a class of its own.
Back Cover comments on Leading HR
“...It is increasingly clear that people are indeed at the heart of corporate strategy and it is through the energy, innovation and engagement of employees that companies succeed. However, what is less clear is the role that the HR function can play in supporting and framing the people agenda. This very useful and informative book brings the debate about the role of the HR function bang up to date. Drawing from a wide range of cases and research insights the authors show clearly what it takes for the HR function to win. Filled with strategic imperatives, issues for reflection and ideas for implementation it shows what it takes for the profession to be indeed at the centre of corporate strategy. A must have on every HR professional's bookshelf”. Professor Lynda Gratton, London Business School, author of 'Hot Spots'
"...Leading HR begins with research based in successful organizations and builds a thought provoking new paradigm for thinking about the changing roles and responsibilities of HR." Professor Patrick M. Wright, William J. Conaty GE Professor of Strategic Human Resources, Cornell University
“...Changing business needs demand new responses from human resources. Human resource leaders who want to succeed – and want to help their organizations succeed as well – should read Leading HR to understand both the new, technical challenges that business faces and how they need human resources to help them.” Professor Peter Cappelli, Director - Center for Human Resources, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
"...The last two years have served to strenthen the role of and need for, high calibre HR professionals. 'Leading HR' provides real insight into how HR needs to respond to today's world. It asks important questions about our agenda , relationships and capabilities, in the context of business change and moves to answer them in a thoughtful and practical way." Jackie Orme, Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
Contributors to the book:
Paul Chesworth: Paul has 23 years HR management experience within the commercial vehicles, defence and latterly telecoms sectors. He is currently HR Director, Vodafone Europe and Chairman of the Centre for Performance-led HR at Lancaster University Management School.
David Fairhurst: Senior Vice President & Chief People Officer (Northern Europe), McDonald's Restaurants - Having been European Director of Recruitment and Leadership Planning for SmithKline Beecham, and Corporate HR Director for Tesco; David joined McDonald's in May 2005 and has board-level responsibility for HR, Training, Education, Customer Services and Environment. He is a Fellow of Lancaster University Management School, and in 2007 was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Business Administration by Manchester Metropolitan University Business School where he is a Visiting Professor. In 2007 and 2008 he secured the No.1 position in Personnel Today's Top 40 HR Power Players list; and in June 2009 he was voted the UK's 'Most Influential Practitioner' by readers of HR Magazine for the second consecutive year.
Sherief Hammady: Sherief is an Associate Director with Hay Group UK and is a member of the private sector consultancy leadership team. He has a PhD in organisational studies from the University of St Andrews.
Matt Stripe: Matt is currently Assistant Vice President Human Resources for Nestlé SA, with responsibility for Human Resources and Global Talent Management for Nestlé ’s Strategic Business Units, Sales and Marketing, Finance and Head office. Prior to this Matt was the HR Director for Nestlé Confectionery Division having previously held a number of Senior HR roles for BAE SYSTEMS and MBD.
Helen Sweeney: Helen is Group HR director at national building services provider, NG Bailey. Her responsibilities include developing and delivering a people focused strategy in support of the business, as well as overseeing all other HR activity. Helen has also held senior HR positions at Co-operative Financial Services, Barclays Bank and Unilever. She is passionate about developing talent and has an impressive background in introducing leading edge talent initiatives in the organisations she works for.
John Whelan: John is currently the HR Director for the UK (Programmes and Support) business of BAE Systems. He has over 20 years of HR experience in large industrial companies in the UK and Europe.
Rob Woolley: Rob has worked for Co-operative Financial Services for 22 years working at all levels within the company and as a Director for the last 7 years. He moved into the HR arena after running the company's call centres for 5 years and has a passion about people and culture.
