Dive Brief:
- Human Resources Online reports that while a majority (80%) of HR leaders may believe they are strategic business partners, only a bit more than a quarter of them (27%) actually support their employer's long-term strategic goals.
- The article, based on a survey from BambooHR of more than 1,000 current business leaders (not just HR), says that even with this apparent disconnect, the survey found the majority of respondents felt it is "important to implement strategic HR practices."
- 72% of HR pros surveyed reported they frequently revise and adapt HR strategy reactively rather than proactively – a barometer that says strategic HR probably is not happening.
Dive Insight:
What is holding HR professionals back from being proactive in supporting long-term business objectives – from being strategic? Among other drivers, a lack of resources (budget, tools) is cited by a slim majority (51%), followed by inadequate software (47%).
“Without the necessary resources, HR will be stuck between wanting to master strategic HR and actually mastering strategic,” according to the BambooHR report.
In a telling result, nearly one-third (32%) said a "lack of executive and employee buy-in" is a key hurdle preventing HR departments from being more strategic, with a skimpy 18% reporting that their executives provide HR with the total support they need to be effectively strategic.
Finally, just 27% of survey participants work with the corporate board on business strategy, so that low number certainly reflects the negative response from HR leaders polled on being strategic.
