Research Insights is a series of short reports which briefly set out the state of the art in a range of HR issues, drawing on the latest thinking and developments in the relevant field.
Earlier reports of this type were called ‘Change Agendas’ and these are included in the list below. We changed to the new series name with the launch of Leadership Transitions: Maximising HR’s Contribution in June 2007.
List of Research Insights (and previous Change Agendas) by date
Engaging leadership: creating organisations that maximise the potential of their people.
Examines the relationship between leadership behaviours and employee engagement and established causal links. Includes a new model of engaging leadership with evidence for its effectiveness.
Published: September 2008
Web 2.0 and human resources
This discussion paper has been written to encourage personal reflection and debate among the HR community about the way newer web-based technologies (like social networking sites and blogging) are influencing HR.
Published: June 2008
Smart working: the impact of work organisation and job design
As the world of work changes in response to rapidly changing markets, employee expectations , and developments in IT, organisations are moving from traditional systems and methods of organising to new ways of communicating and managing. This report examines how and to what extent this is happening. It asks “Is there a new organisational paradigm?”
Published: March 2008
Managing an ageing workforce: the role of total reward
Examines how total reward can be managed for an age-diverse workforce, and in particular how total reward can help attract, retain and engage older workers.
Published: February 2008
Aligning learning to strategic priorities: a discussion paper
Aims to stimulate and encourage debate about the challenges of achieving alignment between learning and strategic priorites.
Published: November 2007
Coaching in organisations
Initial findings from research into coaching provision in UK organisations. Includes two case studies and some early conclusions about good practice.
Published: October 2007
Improving health through human resource management: summary findings
Overview of the findings from research examining how human resource management can help NHS organisations achieve their goals.
Published: October 2007
Implementing information and consultation: early experience under the ICE Regulations
Presents initial findings from case study-based research concerning I&C arrangements in the changed legal context established by the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations 2004
Published: September 2007
Employer branding: the latest fad or the future for HR?
Eight leading commentators offer their personal and professional perspectives on the future of employer branding and HR.
Published: July 2007
Age and recruitment - state of play: summer 2007
Looks at how case study organisations are addressing recruitment in light of the legislation on age discrimination, examining its implications for each stage of the recruitment process.
Published: July 2007
Investors' views of human capital
Reports on CIPD research looking at investors’ views on the contribution of people to business, and sets out the implications of the findings for human capital evaluation.
Published: June 2007
Talent management
Initial findings from a research project examining how organisations are identifying, developing, deploying and retaining talent. Includes a case study form Gordon Ramsey Holdings.
Published: June 2007
Leadership transitions: maximising HR's contribution
On overview of the implications and challenges for HR professionals to support individuals within organisations as they are promoted from one level of leadership to the next.
Published: June 2007
What's happening with well-being at work?
Examines the nature of employee well-being and looks at the programmes and initiatives that are taking place under this heading in the workplace.
Published: June 2007
The value of learning: a new model of value and evaluation
Reports on a study which looked at the role of training and learning in creating value in organisations.
Published: April 2007
Learning and the line: the role of line managers in training, learning and development
Draws on existing literature and research undertaken in six organisations to examine the practical meaning of training, learning and development, and the supportive conditions necessary for effective line management involvement.
Published: April 2007
Women in the boardroom: the risks of being at the top
First findings from a research project examing the 'glass cliff' phenomenon and its implications for people management and development.
Published: March 2007
Rewarding work: the vital role of line managers
Reports on research which examined how the design of policies in the area of reward and performance management takes account of the fact that they are delivered, in the main, by line managers.
Published: February 2007
Coaching supervision: maximising the potential of coaching
Reports on research into good practice, with guidance for managers on making the best use of coaching supervision in organisations.
Published: December 2006
Reflections on employee engagement
A collection of five essays in which leading experts provide additional perspectives on the research findings from our 2006 employee attitudes and engagement survey.
Published: November 2006
The changing HR function: the key questions
Examines key questions related to the changing HR function, drawing on a review of the existing literature and on discussions with key practitioners and academics.
Published: October 2006
Talent management: understanding the dimensions
Draws on existing literature and discussions with HR specialists to explore the dimensions of talent management.
Published: October 2006
HR and technology: beyond delivery
Draws on the interim findings from an ongoing CIPD research project looking at HR and technology in more holistic terms. Includes a case study on Cancer Research UK.
Published: June 2006
Risk and performance: HR's role in managing risk
Examines the links between people management, HR and risk. Case studies illustrate what risk management means in practice for HR professionals.
Published: May 2006
Reflections on talent management
Examines what talent management means and what is being done in organisations to manage talent. Draws on findings from 2006 annual learning and development survey. Includes organisation case studies.
Published: April 2006
Managing diversity: measuring success
Explores the challenges involved in measuring the impact of managing diversity, and assesses the measurement tools in general use
Published: February 2006
Improving health through human resource management: a starting point for change
Summarises the results from the first phase of a research study exploring how HRM can contribute to improved performance in the NHS.
Published: January 2006
What is employee relations?
Summarises the changing nature of employee relations in UK organisations.
Published: November 2005
Managing change: the role of the psychological contract
Draws on evidence from the literature to address key issues in the relationship between change and the psychological contract.
Published: October 2005
Managing diversity: learning by doing
Draws on an action research programme designed to inform the development of good practice in managing diversity.
Published: June 2005
Managing diversity: linking theory and practice to business performance
Looks at the relationship between changes in the business world and managing diversity. Suggests the adoption of a balanced scorecard approach, to integrate diversity into business strategy and operational activities.
Published: May 2005
Training to learning
Comments on what can be done, and what is being done, to promote individual, team and organisational learning using case studies of innovative practice.
Published: April 2005
Driving diversity progress: messages from a showcase of CIPD research
A write-up of a one-day conference, A Showcase of CIPD Diversity Research. The programme explored a range of research, as well as short formal presentations and a series of round-table discussions with subject experts and experienced practitioners.
Published: February 2005
Basic skills in the workplace: opening doors to learning
Explores why more employees need higher levels of writing, reading and maths than ever before.
Published: January 2005
Inclusive learning for all: why accessible e-learning makes business sense
Focuses on how e-learning can meet the needs of disabled people, but the aim is to raise awareness about the importance of providing accessible and usable training for all learners, not just those with disabilities.
Published: December 2004
Employers and offenders: reducing crime through work and rehabilitation
Provides an overview of the issues surrounding the employment of people with criminal convictions. Covers the links between unemployment and crime, and the attitudes of employers. Includes details of successful programmes and recommendations.
Published: July 2004
Women in the boardroom: a bird's eye view
This publication looks at why so few women are making it into the boardroom. It is based on case studies from ten high-potential women reflecting on their career choices, categorised as corporate high-fliers, soloists and pioneers, and submarines.
Published: June 2004
HR and reorganisation
Written by Richard Donkin, this Change Agenda covers organisation design, restructuring and change management. It points out that before the HR profession can effectively contribute to the debate, the profession must change itself.
Published: May 2004
Trade union learning representatives
A think-piece on the potential contribution trade union learning representatives can make to learning in the workplace. Learning reps are well placed to provide support, encouragement and guidance to their members. Contains quotations and case studies.
Published: April 2004
The challenge of the age
This research looks at the changes employers must make in order to comply with the age discrimination law in 2006. The report sets out the challenges for business and give hot tips on how to cope.
Published: November 2003
Focus on the learner
To complement the CIPD book, Training in the Age of the Learner, written by Martyn Sloman, this Change Agenda looks at the shift from training to learning. Based on case study research, it identifies some of the steps needed to be taken by organisations facing this transition.
Published: September 2003
People and public services: why central targets miss the mark
This report shows that the public sector needs to rethink its 'top-down' approach to public service reform. The report, written by Observer Management Editor Simon Caulkin, argues that the current obsession with target-setting works against good people management and development practices and undermines performance.
Published: July 2003
Religious discrimination: an introduction to the law
Explores the EU Equal Treatment Framework Directive, raising issues to help employers in considering how their people management and development policies and practices might need to be changed in light of the new law.
Published: July 2003
Human capital: external reporting framework
Developed from the CIPD's Human Capital Taskforce, this Change Agenda provides a concise introduction to the external reporting of human capital issues. It contains a proposed framework of benchmark indicators for organisations to use.
Published: June 2003
Delivering public services: engaging and energising people
The CIPD has contributed extensively to the debate around the reform of the public sector. Launched at the joint CIPD/CMPS Conference in March 2003, this report, written by the Development Partnership, gives many practical examples.
Published: March 2003
E-learning: the learning curve
This Change Agenda investigates the current state of play in
e-learning. It also looks at the organisation agenda, strategies used, what problems have been encountered and overcome, and what lessons can be learned.
Published: January 2003