Achieving Strategic Excellence
An Assessment of Human Resource Organizations

Edward E. Lawler (Author), John W. Boudreau (Author), Susan Albers Mohrman (Author), Alice Yee Mark (Author), Beth Neilson (Author), Nora Osganian (Author)

9780804753319

Paperback / softback, published 13 April 2006

160 pages, 57 tables
27.9 x 21.6 x 1.3 cm, 0.376 kg

"Achieving Strategic Excellence offers a unique and practical perspective based on solid research on how HR impacts business success. The inclusion of data from senior line managers adds a dose of reality to how the HR function has actually changed. This important work is a must-read for HR professionals as well as business leaders seeking to maximize human capital."—Daryl D. David, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Washington Mutual, Inc. "This latest update of CEO's longitudinal HR study provides almost a decade of perspective on the challenges and changes in the HR function. HR leaders in all industries and stages of career experience will find Lawler, Mohrman, and Boudreau's conclusions insightful and provocative with some interesting twists. The strategic HR journey continues . . ."—Mary Eckenrod, Chair Elect, The Human Resource Planning Society; Vice President, Global Talent Management, Kraft Foods

This is the Center for Effective Organizations's (CEO) fourth national study of the human resources (HR) function in large corporations. It is the only long-term national study of this important function. Like the previous studies, it focuses 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 earlier studies to data collected in 2004. The results show some important changes and indicate what HR needs to do to be effective. Practices are identified that enable HR functions to be high value-added strategic partners.