Dive Brief:

• Forbes Human Resource Council says HR can use big data in the same manner as key performance indicators and retention metrics to carry out organizational goals. The council offers six ways HR can leverage data.
• According to council members, big data can: Help HR uncover and then improve engagement drivers; use tracking metrics to identify common traits of successful hires; use key performance indicators to measure productivity; and find ways to use technology to help employees.
• Council members also recommend that HR use big data to plan and not just analyze the best strategies for recruiting, hiring and retaining talent.

Dive Insight:

HR has been using metrics to help plan strategies for hiring talent and engaging employees for the past few decades. As technology advances, such as artificial intelligence and automation, HR will have more sophisticated tools for carrying out its functions and achieving its goals with greater efficiency.

With all the big data and technological advances at HR’s disposal, over reliance on metrics can ignore employees’ human needs. Engaging employees sometimes can be as simple as acknowledging them for a job well done or asking for their input in a major decision affecting their work.