What do you think?
Rate this book
Transformational HR: How Human Resources Can Create Value and Impact Business Strategy
In our increasingly fast and competitive world, HR professionals are uniquely placed to prepare an organization for lasting success. Pioneers are leading the way using the latest developments in the world of work such as Lean UX, holacracy, futurology and work-as-a-platform. Endorsed by the CIPD,
Transformational HR
shows HR professionals how to unleash this potential and use these advances to make an impact on business strategy.
This book puts transformational HR in context, exploring what has and hasn't worked. It sets out a vision of what HR can be, providing examples of and lessons from HR thought leaders who have begun to transform their workplaces. In addition to presenting numerous examples, Transformational HR provides tools, models and advice for HR professionals aspiring to become more finely-tuned, responsive, forward-thinking and impact-led. Featuring case studies and references from companies from the USA, Mexico, Slovenia and the UK, it is a blueprint for turning the HR function into a powerhouse for organizational success and creating more fulfilling experiences for people.
This book puts transformational HR in context, exploring what has and hasn't worked. It sets out a vision of what HR can be, providing examples of and lessons from HR thought leaders who have begun to transform their workplaces. In addition to presenting numerous examples, Transformational HR provides tools, models and advice for HR professionals aspiring to become more finely-tuned, responsive, forward-thinking and impact-led. Featuring case studies and references from companies from the USA, Mexico, Slovenia and the UK, it is a blueprint for turning the HR function into a powerhouse for organizational success and creating more fulfilling experiences for people.
280 pages, Paperback
Published October 3, 2017
13 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 20, 2017
This is an interesting review of HR, and particularly the much used (or is that overused?) Ulrich model.
Timms very much focuses on HR becoming more like IT, with project based delivery using the Agile framework, and although there are some organisations - large white collar ones - where this may work I'm sceptical about it having broad application. For organisations with a single HR person it is hard to find where these ideas could be implemented effectively.
I agree with Timms that there must be a transformation of HR and that the business partner Ulrich model often is ineffective. However, HR can be so complex and organisation-dependent as to it's focus (leadership, IR, personnel etc.) that I really don't think there is a one-size-fits-all model. I think we are better off concentrating on what skills and core competencies HR practitioners need to have and how that translates to the workplace. In essence, what is the purpose of HR and then build your team from that purpose.
A read I'd recommend to any HR practitioner that knows the function isn't "quite right" and would like some thought provocation.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Timms very much focuses on HR becoming more like IT, with project based delivery using the Agile framework, and although there are some organisations - large white collar ones - where this may work I'm sceptical about it having broad application. For organisations with a single HR person it is hard to find where these ideas could be implemented effectively.
I agree with Timms that there must be a transformation of HR and that the business partner Ulrich model often is ineffective. However, HR can be so complex and organisation-dependent as to it's focus (leadership, IR, personnel etc.) that I really don't think there is a one-size-fits-all model. I think we are better off concentrating on what skills and core competencies HR practitioners need to have and how that translates to the workplace. In essence, what is the purpose of HR and then build your team from that purpose.
A read I'd recommend to any HR practitioner that knows the function isn't "quite right" and would like some thought provocation.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 18, 2017
The role of the Human Resources (HR) department within a company can be often under-appreciated or not given sufficient resources for it to reach its full potential. This book sets out to change this, showing how HR activities can play a positive role within a company, adding value and strategic impact to its operations in the process.
The book is aimed at the HR professional to inspire internal change, although others in leadership and managerial roles could still benefit from much of its knowledge, even in an advisory capacity, to help appreciate the bigger picture and potential. The term ‘transformational HR’ is used to show how HR techniques and functions can be deployed to help transform a company’s business, potential and fortune. HR can have a greater stake in a company’s direction than many give it credit for. It may require a sea change of thinking from both sides though!
Implementing transformational HR is not a bed of roses, there can be problems and this book freely shows the positives and negatives that exist. Theory, real-world knowledge and case study examples are used to explain the wide field of transformational HR. In the right hands, to quote the publisher, the book can be a ‘blueprint for turning the HR function and the organizations in which they operate into powerhouses’. Powerhouses may be debatable in some cases, but there is certainly potential on the table waiting to be utilised.
It was an interesting and thoughtful book, even to a non-HR specialist. With my manager’s hat on I could see the utility and value for transformational HR, whilst understanding why for many HR is relegated to being a function, dealing with ‘employee matters’ as a sort of reactive service strategy. It can be time to shake things up and get all ‘service departments’ working to drive the company forward, proactively. For the HR side of things, transformational HR can be that thing. The provided advice, knowledge and models for consideration are valuable and deserve wider consideration.
This book is a detailed read, but still manages to be accessible and open to serve different audiences, despite its understandable focus on the HR specialist. It can appear quite philosophical in places. It deserves a sequential read to get the most out of it, but it can also serve as a dip-in-and-out reference book thereafter. There is a lot of potential data that you may have failed to appreciate in the past, but this does a good job in consolidating it and advocating the critical points.
The book is aimed at the HR professional to inspire internal change, although others in leadership and managerial roles could still benefit from much of its knowledge, even in an advisory capacity, to help appreciate the bigger picture and potential. The term ‘transformational HR’ is used to show how HR techniques and functions can be deployed to help transform a company’s business, potential and fortune. HR can have a greater stake in a company’s direction than many give it credit for. It may require a sea change of thinking from both sides though!
Implementing transformational HR is not a bed of roses, there can be problems and this book freely shows the positives and negatives that exist. Theory, real-world knowledge and case study examples are used to explain the wide field of transformational HR. In the right hands, to quote the publisher, the book can be a ‘blueprint for turning the HR function and the organizations in which they operate into powerhouses’. Powerhouses may be debatable in some cases, but there is certainly potential on the table waiting to be utilised.
It was an interesting and thoughtful book, even to a non-HR specialist. With my manager’s hat on I could see the utility and value for transformational HR, whilst understanding why for many HR is relegated to being a function, dealing with ‘employee matters’ as a sort of reactive service strategy. It can be time to shake things up and get all ‘service departments’ working to drive the company forward, proactively. For the HR side of things, transformational HR can be that thing. The provided advice, knowledge and models for consideration are valuable and deserve wider consideration.
This book is a detailed read, but still manages to be accessible and open to serve different audiences, despite its understandable focus on the HR specialist. It can appear quite philosophical in places. It deserves a sequential read to get the most out of it, but it can also serve as a dip-in-and-out reference book thereafter. There is a lot of potential data that you may have failed to appreciate in the past, but this does a good job in consolidating it and advocating the critical points.
September 1, 2018
Transformation in HR is not easy
Im not an HR professional but the book is so easy and imformtive to read, transformation in HR is not easy as in technology but the author linked the transformation model in HR with the agile approach in IT development seamlessly. The four zone model gives me clear understanding how HR is improving the business and support the owners. He made it easy to understand each zone with very good cases and references.
Im not an HR professional but the book is so easy and imformtive to read, transformation in HR is not easy as in technology but the author linked the transformation model in HR with the agile approach in IT development seamlessly. The four zone model gives me clear understanding how HR is improving the business and support the owners. He made it easy to understand each zone with very good cases and references.
January 27, 2019
Ashamed to say but I dropped it. It's all suggestions and very few practical examples. Also, while the history of HR is presented in a fresh manner, it tells more about ghe author's ethos than about the point he's trying to make. Maybe it's just me, but the book felt dry and way too theoretical, and I'm not quite there yet in my career. Also perhaps better fitzed for HR practiciners from large corps with higher differentiation within the function.
July 14, 2021
Thank you Netgalley for the Opportunity to preview Transformational HR. Perry Timms is an expert in this area and I have read previous books and learned alot.
This is a must read for HR professionals, People Managers and anyone who is interested in successful change acceleration, postivity, and over transforming an organization.
5 stars.
This is a must read for HR professionals, People Managers and anyone who is interested in successful change acceleration, postivity, and over transforming an organization.
5 stars.
August 20, 2017
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to read this ahead of publication (due 28 October).
One to read for seasoned and new HR professionals alike who are interested in thinking about how HR can start to have a meaningful impact on business strategy to truly transform organisations.
One to read for seasoned and new HR professionals alike who are interested in thinking about how HR can start to have a meaningful impact on business strategy to truly transform organisations.
July 7, 2021
I didn't enjoy this, nor finish it. I think there are better resources out there on this topic.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews