THE CHANGING ROLE OF HR – A COMMUNICATION RESPONSIBILITY

It is easy to say that HR should have a greater responsibility for communication. After all the functions HR has been a repository for business functions with a people element that are not strictly HR. HR’s role in organisational communication should become clear when there is consensus about HR’s role in the wider organisational context.

This apparently straightforward objectives is clouded, though, with the mist of confusion. The matter of role clarity for HR continues to attract a great deal of debate about efficacy, position in the organisation and future direction. There has been a good deal written on this subject, and it has been discussed at length.

HR has a very clear role that is fundamental to the success of the organisation, thus HR people are uniquely placed to design and operate organisational and practices that can lead to success. Hence understanding this and delivering solutions to the people needs of the organisation is the starting point for positioning HR’s role in the communication process.

It has now become a core part of the role of those in HR to be able to answer questions with knowledge and understanding and a good grounding in the principles and practice of organisational communication, because organisational communication of any sort requires an added professionalism.

But when it concerns people, it requires a depth of understanding and renewed approach, of which HR professional; can provide this. HR’s role must be one of consultancy, coordination and maintaining fairness in the practice of organisational approach, in order words, HR now tends to concentrate on the need to close the gap between rhetoric and reality.

In practise this means making HR communication interventions that are strategic i.e. aligned to business strategy and with board- level support as well as operationally excellent.

Effective organisational communication is therefore a key plank for building competitive advantage in so doing supporting a progressive and enlightened HR Strategy.