If your organisation was offered the chance to boost your reach, your impact and your credibility by forging a deal with a similar organisation in the world’s fastest growing economy, wouldn’t you just jump at it? Probably. But not if you’re the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
The institute turned down a golden opportunity to provide official HR qualifications – and thereby define professional standards – in China, because it was apparently “too resource intensive”.
Perhaps the CIPD decided it didn’t want to break into the £29.3m it has in reserve. However, to many in the profession, this decision looks short-sighted.
It makes any talk about risk-taking, innovation, bravery, and creativity just that – talk.
I agree with the senior HR source that a “progressive institute should be exploring, innovating and reaching out to such opportunities”.
Speaking at a Packed Lunch business briefing last week (hosted by RBI Recruitment), the Association of Graduate Recruiters’ vice-president Alison Hodgson quoted HR guru Bill Zinke when she said that it was the capability and competence of HR that would create the commercial USP (unique selling proposition) for businesses in the future. She added that HR needed to stop navel-gazing and get on with it.
Perhaps senior HR players can start by challenging the capability, competence – and judgement – of its professional body. Was this decision playing safe, or missing a trick? Justifiable or ‘shameful’? You decide.
All change…
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This is Personnel Today’s final issue of the year, and my last issue as editor. I am leaving to take up the editorship of the Times Educational Supplement. I pass the reins on to Dawn Spalding, currently our legal editor, who takes over from 17 December.
I have enjoyed my three years on the title, and I wish everyone in the HR community all the very best for the future.
