This report was prepared and written by David Vere and Lynne Butler of the Development Partnership. It is available to purchase online – please visit our bookstore for more details and to find out how to order.
What needs to happen for strategic HR to become a reality in the public sector? How should HR best engage with the business and work in partnership? What should HR be doing to add real value to the business? And how do you demonstrate that value?
These are some of the questions addressed by nine public sector organisations working together in an action learning consortium to develop a more strategic approach to HR. Each undertook learning activities which focused on an issue or project of particular importance to them in their own HR change programme, and shared their experience and good practice with other consortium members.
The findings are summarised in this report under the seven themes identified in our first Fit for Business report, published in 2005: goals, results, performance, technique, teamwork, fitness and physique. Under each theme we highlight:
- the key questions that were addressed by consortium organisations
- the principles or theory that underpinned their approach
- examples of what was done
- the experience and lessons that emerged
- concluding questions HR professionals should ask themselves.
The report provides:
- an understanding of the issues and challenges facing strategic HR in the public sector
- a structured and innovative approach to addressing these issues
- the opportunity to share the experiences of other public sector organisations engaged in transforming HR.
VERE, D. and BUTLER, L (2007) Fit for business: transforming HR in the public sector. ‘Research into Practice’ report. London: CIPD.
Previous report
VERE, D (2005) Fit for business: building a strategic HR function in the public sector. Research report. London: CIPD