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Center for Effective Organizations

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Is HR a Strategic Partner?

The Center for Effective Organizations (CEO) at the University of Southern California has completed its fifth study of the human resources (HR) function in large corporations. Begun in 1995, it is the only long-term study of this important function. The complete results of this study will appear in a book by Ed Lawler and John Boudreau that will be published in the spring by the Stanford University Press.

Like the previous studies, it is focused on measuring whether the HR function is changing and on gauging its effectiveness. The study focuses particularly on whether the HR function is changing to become an effective strategic partner. It also analyzes how organizations can more effectively manage their human capital. The present study compares data from the earlier studies to data we collected in 2007. The results show some important changes and indicate what HR needs to do to be effective. HR practices and organization designs are identified that enable HR functions to be high value-added strategic partners.

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