Dave Ulrich: Developing a human capability framework for change (2024)

Author

Dave Ulrich

Date published August 23, 2022

Categories

  • HR Effectiveness
  • HR Strategy

Dave Ulrich: Developing a human capability framework for change (1)

Advancing HR work requires both art and science. By art I mean creative and divergent innovations that adapt to changing circ*mstances to discover new ideas. By science I mean disciplined and convergent insights that meld theory, research, and practice to deliver on promises. Or in other words, navigate an art/science paradox requiring divergent/convergent thinking.

The divergent/convergent thinking paradox is described in figure 1. Divergence (more art-centric) means identifying challenges and generating options for responding. Often creating options leads to a surfeit of ideas and actions that diffuse attention and limit results, which is represented by the widening angle of the diamond. Convergence (more science centric) turns many options into a few priorities that allow execution by focusing energy and action, which is represented by the narrowing of the diamond. Both divergence and convergence are necessary for progress.

Figure 1: Divergent/convergent paradox

Dave Ulrich: Developing a human capability framework for change (2)

Purpose and challenge of divergent thinking

Generating new ideas and tools may come from observing others by benchmarking and identifying best practices, experimenting with alternative approaches, acquiring new competencies from outside the firm, and continuously improving through work like six sigma or lean. Divergent thinking often leads to many initiatives that an organization may pursue, such as the list of initiatives in figure 2 that organizations have attempted in recent years. While innovative, chasing initiatives may become faddish with each new “shiny object” being seen as a quick fix. In addition, trying to advance multiple initiatives simultaneously can disperse attention and cause a “good is the enemy of great” situation.

Figure 2: Recent HR initiatives

Dave Ulrich: Developing a human capability framework for change (3)

Progress through convergent thinking

Convergent thinking focuses attention to turn many options into focused actions. Convergence is less about all that could be done and highlights what should be done.

The value of a framework. Convergence begins with an integrated framework to organize separate ideas into patterns. In studying chess, research found that chess masters possess a “recognition-action” repertoire of concepts (also called “chunks,” “templates,” or “patterns”). These patterns are frameworks that organize the complex chess options into protocols that help chess masters accurately replace pieces on the board if removed or even help them play blindfolded. For many, this is like learning to type. When we started typing, we began with letters; then with more experience, we type words, or patterns, and not just letters.

Every discipline, to become a science, offers such protocols or integrated frameworks that organize divergent options into patterns (see figure 3). My doctoral training with Bill McKelvey in organizational systematics (numerical taxonomy or classification) taught me about the discipline of integrated frameworks turns complexity into simplicity, focuses attention, provides conceptual clarity, sets priorities, and offers a blueprint for progress. Mental models that create patterns or frames for organizing thinking are critical in the age of technology and turmoil. Notice how the disarray of HR initiatives in figure 2 indicates that HR as a field may not yet have such an integrated framework.

Figure 3: Disciplines relying on frameworks to shape progress

Dave Ulrich: Developing a human capability framework for change (4)

Human capability framework

The broad field of HR continues to evolve, and we now propose an integrated human capability framework as a blueprint for HR convergence and progress.

The evolution of HR. HR has historically focused on talent (or human capital) as the HR agenda. Our (and others’) work shows that organization has far more impact on results than talent and that HR can be the architect of creating organization capabilities. Thus in order for HR to continue successfully serving its key stakeholders, it needs to evolve from work on human capital to human capability (see figure 4).

What's Hot

HRD Roundtable Report: Levelling Up Onboarding for the Hybrid World

Roundtable Report HRD Roundtable Report: Levelling Up Onboarding for the Hybrid World 5 May 2022

6m

HRD Roundtable Report: Levelling Up Onboarding for...

Attracting new talent is shooting up the priority list, but also proving more difficult than ever. A...

View event

HRD Roundtable Report: Redefining Company Culture in Hybrid Work Environments

HRD Roundtable Report: Redefining Company Culture ...

The process of redefining a company culture is a complex one. Culture contributes directly to the da...

View event

Learning to win the talent war: how digital marketing can develop its people

Whitepaper | Talent Development Learning to win the talent war: how digital marketing can develop its people

7m

Learning to win the talent war: how digital market...

This report documents the findings of a Fireside chat held by ClickZ in the first quarter of 2022. I...

View resource

HRD Roundtable Report: Strategies For Re-Engaging The Hybrid Workforce

Roundtable Report HRD Roundtable Report: Strategies For Re-Engaging The Hybrid Workforce 5 May 2022

7m

HRD Roundtable Report: Strategies For Re-Engaging ...

We know hybrid working is here to stay, forcing many organisations to experiment with innovative and...

View event

HRD Roundtable Report: Making it ‘Worth It’ – What We Need to Reward, Engage and Retain

Roundtable Report HRD Roundtable Report: Making it ‘Worth It’ – What We Need to Reward, Engage and Retain 3 March 2022

7m

HRD Roundtable Report: Making it ‘Worth It’ – What...

We know the pandemic has caused many people to revaluate their careers and relationships with work a...

View event

Dave Ulrich: How can business and HR leaders simplify complexity?

Leadership DevelopmentDave Ulrich: How can business and HR leaders simplify complexity?

10mDave Ulrich

Dave Ulrich: How can business and HR leaders simpl...

HR thought leader Dave Ulrich outlines ways leaders can deal with complexity in an increasingly busy...

View article

HRD Roundtable Report: Using HR Data to Inform Organisational Decision Making

Roundtable Report HRD Roundtable Report: Using HR Data to Inform Organisational Decision Making 5 May 2022

7m

HRD Roundtable Report: Using HR Data to Inform Org...

Historically, HR hasn’t been as effective as it could be in sharing and communicating data with wide...

View event

Digital transformation investment grows but critical skills gaps remain - Coursera report

Digital HRDigital transformation investment grows but critical skills gaps remain - Coursera report

10mLeah Belsky

Digital transformation investment grows but critic...

Covid-19 has accelerated the rate of digital learning on a global scale. Coursera's latest report pr...

View article

Wellbeing in the hybrid workplace: how to successfully drive engagement

Employee EngagementWellbeing in the hybrid workplace: how to successfully drive engagement

10mAlara Basul | Sponsored

Wellbeing in the hybrid workplace: how to successf...

Remote working has impacted the way we communicate as a workforce, but striking the right balance be...

View article

How to create a company culture capable of empowering the modern workforce

CultureHow to create a company culture capable of empowering the modern workforce

10mAlara Basul | Sponsored

How to create a company culture capable of empower...

While new working patterns that emerged from the pandemic have earned a permanent spot in the w...

View article

WATCH: Connection and collaboration in a hybrid workplace

Leadership LearningsWATCH: Connection and collaboration in a hybrid workplace

11mAmy Kirkham

WATCH: Connection and collaboration in a hybrid wo...

Alison Noon-Jones, VP of People & Culture at Leidos UK & Europe, shares how crucial employee engagem...

View article

Turbulence ahead: Why it’s time to be bold in your leadership

Leadership DevelopmentTurbulence ahead: Why it’s time to be bold in your leadership

11mTerence Mauri

Turbulence ahead: Why it’s time to be bold in your...

HRD thought leader and Hack Future Lab founder Terence Maurisets out why the biggest risk to leader...

View article

Figure 4: Evolution of HR agenda

Dave Ulrich: Developing a human capability framework for change (5)

Human capability framework or blueprint. The human capability blueprint in figure 5 offers a simple yet robust way to organize HR work into four pathways that create value for all stakeholders inside and outside the organization and move itself along the HR evolution.

  • Talent(often called human capital) deals with what could be done do to ensure the right individual competence, workforce, or people.
  • Organization (sometimes called structure, governance, or culture) focuses on defining the organization capability, workplace, or team.
  • Leadership emphasizes both individual leaders and collective leadership.
  • Human Resources refers to the HR function or department and the how of accomplishing HR work.
Figure 5: Human capability framework

Dave Ulrich: Developing a human capability framework for change (6)

The logic of the human capability framework helps business and HR leaders focus the indiscriminate list of initiatives (figure 2) into patterns or clusters that can then be managed like a master chess player sees the protocols of chess moves (see figure 6 and the colors for each pathway).

Figure 6: Human capability framework applied to today’s HR initiatives

Dave Ulrich: Developing a human capability framework for change (7)

Application of human capability framework. Let me demonstrate how this human capability framework helps turn great ideas (art of divergence) into sustainable impact (science of convergence). Each month, many colleagues summarize recent innovative work in HR. One monthly summary provided by Dave Green from Insight 222 curates the “top 20 articles” in HR that is always a remarkable list of innovative ideas. But turning this remarkable research (divergence) into relevant action (convergence) is often hard because the information is overwhelming. So this compendium of ideas is often more interesting than impactful.

For the month of June 2022, I clustered the twenty insights into the four human capability pathways. Notice that most of these ideas were about “talent” (in red of figure 7).

Figure 7: Classification of June 2022 top articles into human capability framework

Dave Ulrich: Developing a human capability framework for change (8)

HR continues (at least in this June 2022 compendium) to focus more on people insights than leadership, organization, or HR. This may be a statement that the HR field is still focused on the “human capital” agenda more than “human capability” as shown in figure 4.

By clustering multiple insights into the four human capability pathways, an HR or business leader may make progress by focusing attention on which of the four pathways best delivers desired results. Given the desired strategic, customer, investor, or community results, business teams can do a diagnosis to determine whether talent, leadership, organization, or HR is the most critical pathway. This diagnosis can be from thoughtful discussion or from rigorous analysis (see Organization Guidance System). For example, if talent is selected as the most critical pathway, Dave Green’s curation now offers a meaningful menu of “talent insights” that can be prioritized to select the top talent initiatives to implement.

Hopefully, HR professionals can increasingly contribute value to all stakeholders by relying on an organized, integrated framework to guide their decisions. By so doing, the HR agenda moves forward and evolves as it needs to (figure 4) like the other disciplines in figure 3.

Going forward, I envision progress by combining the art and science of HR. The divergence and art of HR innovation can be coupled with the convergence and science of HR discipline so that progress will continue.

The best is yet ahead.

Comments are closed.

More about:

  • HR Strategy
  • Leadership
Dave Ulrich: Developing a human capability framework for change (2024)

FAQs

What is the David Ulrich HR model? ›

What Is Ulrich's HR Model? The Ulrich model is an HR model developed by David Ulrich in 1995. The model aims to organize human resource functions into four compartmentalized segments. Ulrich posits that human resource professionals' roles should be redefined to meet modern businesses' competitive challenges.

What is the Ulrich 3 legged model? ›

Ulrich suggested that in large organizations, the (previously integrated) HR function should be divided into three segments. Shared service activities should be concentrated in a call-centre with supporting intranet to provide administrative and basic support functions to the remainder of the business.

Why is Ulrich HR model important? ›

Ulrich's model helps to organize roles and responsibilities across HR departments, defining who is responsible and accountable for the key tasks that contribute to the smooth running of any business.

How do you develop HR capability? ›

  1. Development. Build the leadership and HR competencies that have the greatest impact on improving stakeholder confidence.
  2. HR Competency 360 Assessment. The HR Competency 360 assessment identifies strengths and opportunities for development for HR professionals.
  3. Strategic HR Development.

What are the 5 HR capabilities? ›

The 5 Main Roles in HR
  • Talent Management. The talent management team in the HR department covers a lot of ground. ...
  • Compensation and Benefits. ...
  • Training and Development. ...
  • HR Compliance. ...
  • Workplace Safety.
27 Jun 2022

What are the five 5 categories in the Ulrich model of HR delivery? ›

In The HR Value Proposition (2005), Ulrich subsequently revised his thinking from four key roles to five: Employee Advocate; Human Capital Developer; Functional Expert; Strategic Partner; HR Leader (Ulrich and Brockbank, 2005).

What are the four 4 HR roles defined by Ulrich? ›

The four roles outlined include: Strategic Partner. Change Agent. Administrative Expert. Employee Champion.

How do you use the Ulrich model? ›

Basic Principles of David Ulrich Competency Model

Creating a unified structure that delivers value. Defining a clear distinction or role HRs. Creating a competitive edge for the company. Measuring how a company has performed as per the defined metrics.

What are the 3 steps in the human resource planning model? ›

There are four general steps in the HRP process: identifying the current supply of employees, determining the future of the workforce, balancing between labor supply and demand, and developing plans that support the company's goals.

What is the mandate that Ulrich proposes for HR? ›

Ulrich elaborates on four broad tasks for HR that would allow it to help deliver organizational excellence. First, HR should become a partner in strategy execution. Second, it should become an expert in the way work is organized and executed. Third, it should become a champion for employees.

Is Ulrich's model significant and relevant to modern day organizations? ›

And since Human Resources is responsible for keeping employees happy, hard-working, and dialed-in to an organization's long-term goals and objectives, Ulrich's famed HR Model is a big part of virtually any company's present or future success.

What are the three most important functions that HR performs? ›

Depending on the size of the company, an HR professional might perform one or several of the key functions of human resources outlined in the list below:
  1. Recruiting, hiring and retaining talent. ...
  2. Employee engagement. ...
  3. Performance management. ...
  4. Compensation and benefits. ...
  5. 5. Development and training. ...
  6. Risk management.

What are 5 ways of developing human resources? ›

10 Best Practices for Developing a Human Resources Strategy
  • 1) Promote What Makes Your Firm Unique. ...
  • 2) Find the Best Fit(s) ...
  • 3) Explain What You Expect. ...
  • 4) Feedback, Feedback, Feedback. ...
  • 5) Motivate Your Employees. ...
  • 6) Delegate. ...
  • 7) Embrace Technology. ...
  • 8) Encourage Staff Development.

What is HR capability development? ›

The HR Capability team develops and manages the end to end cycle of. recruitment and learning and development (including leadership, talent and succession planning) for all employees within the University.

What are the three important factors for the development of human resource? ›

The factors that improve human resource are:
  • Education: Education helps to- a. Improves the skills of individuals. ...
  • Healthcare: Healthy persons can participate in the progress of a country. a. ...
  • Training: a. Training helps by giving practical work experience. ...
  • Social capital:

What are the 7 important steps related to human resource cycle? ›

HR life cycle steps include business strategy, HR strategy, organizational design, job & team design, HR planning, vision & culture, recruitment & selection, onboarding & induction, assessment & appraisal, training & development, engagement & reward, career management and exit.

What are the 7 core HR functions? ›

Human Resource activities fall under 7 core functions: Recruitment and Selection, Training and Development, Performance Management, Employee Relations, Employment Law and Compliance, Compensation and Benefits and Administration, Payroll & HR Systems.

What are the 6 key HR practices of an HR plan? ›

Recruitment & selection, performance management, learning & development, succession planning, compensation and benefits, Human Resources Information Systems, and HR data and analytics are considered cornerstones of effective HRM.

What are the 4 main functions of HR? ›

The four basic functions of the HRM are similar to those of any manager – planning, organizing, directing, and controlling.

What are the 4 major purposes of Human Resource Management? ›

Human resource management has four basic functions: staffing, training and development, motivation, and maintenance. Staffing is the recruitment and selection of potential employees done through interviewing, applications, networking, etc.

What is the best fit model in HR strategy? ›

The 'best fit' approach "argues that firms must adapt their HR strategies to other elements of the firm's strategy and to its wider environment. What constitutes a good HR strategy will depend on the specific context" (Boxall & Purcell, 2011:63).

What is Dave Ulrich known for? ›

Ranked as the #1 management guru by Business Week, profiled by Fast Company as one of the world's top 10 creative people in business, a top 5 coach in Forbes, and recognized on Thinkers50 (Hall of Fame) as one of the world's leading business thinkers, Dave Ulrich has a passion for ideas with impact.

What are the 5 steps involved in the HR planning process? ›

Five Planning Steps Every Organization Should Use
  • Analysis of Organizational Plans and Objectives. ...
  • Preparing a Human Resources Inventory. ...
  • Assessing Future Supply and Demand. ...
  • Matching Supply and Demand. ...
  • Establishing an Action Plan.
29 Jul 2020

What are the 3 core elements of human resource management? ›

Generally, there are three phases of Human Resource Management namely, the pre-hiring phase of the employee, Training and Development phase and the post-hiring phase of the employee.

What is HR's role in identifying the leadership for the change initiative? ›

HR can play a dual role in change management by initiating and leading the change and by serving as a facilitator for changes that other leaders and departments initiated.

What is the importance of human resource in an organization? ›

A human resource department is also in charge of keeping employees safe, healthy, and satisfied. With proper HR management, workplace policies keep up with necessary protective measures and implementation and provide solutions to issues between team members, avoiding risk for the company and its employees.

Why organization effectiveness is the most important component of human resource development? ›

Organizational effectiveness is important in helping companies flourish long term. It allows organizations to operate more smoothly by keeping them focused on their goals. Benefits of an effective organization include: Increased productivity: Setting clear goals and monitoring progress may increase output.

How has the role of HR changed in the modern day workplace? ›

The changing role of HR

HR today is a dynamic department that makes use of different technologies to automate processes and improve communication. Boardroom executives have also come to recognize the value of human resources and staff are no longer viewed as an expense but as human capital.

Which among the following is one of the roles of HR in Ulrich model? ›

4 HR Roles defined by Ulrich

strategic partner. change agent. employee champion.

What is the most important role of human resource management? ›

A human resource manager's primary objective is to oversee a company's administrative function, including: Talent recruitment. This involves scouting prospective candidates, coordinating interviews with qualified applicants, and establishing an onboarding process for new hires. Payroll and benefits.

What is the most important component to the HR management system? ›

There are many companies that look for timesheet based payroll, for them, Open HRMS can be a good choice. Payroll is the most significant component of a human resource information system.

What are the two main functions of human resource management? ›

5 functions of human resource management
  • Recruitment and hiring.
  • Onboarding and ongoing training and development.
  • Managing employee and employer relationships.
  • Creating a rewarding company culture.
  • Overseeing disciplinary action.
11 Jun 2021

What are the two most important factors for the development of human resource? ›

These factors were investigated through an inductive research, and the results show that the most important internal and external factors affecting the human resource development are leadership style, employee commitments and motivation, demographic characteristics, labour unions, and governmental laws and regulations.

What are examples of human capabilities? ›

Capabilities are the doings and beings that people can achieve if they so choose — their opportunity to do or be such things as being well-nourished, getting married, being educated, and travelling; functionings are capabilities that have been realized.

What are the four human capabilities? ›

Amartya Sen discusses capabilities through four interlinked concepts: well-being, agency, freedom, and achievement. He explores the contrast between wellbeing and agency, on the one hand, and the distinction between freedom and achievement on the other.

What are the objectives of human resource development? ›

Objectives of Human Resource Development

To develop and expand one's creative abilities and capabilities. Employees are being prepared for higher-level positions. To provide new hires with fundamental HRD knowledge and skills. People's potential for higher-level jobs should be developed.

What are the benefits of human resource development? ›

5 benefits of human resource development
  • Employees with a set of skills. ...
  • Support your business goals. ...
  • Increase workforce diversity. ...
  • Helps you improve internal mobility & talent retention. ...
  • Easier employee management. ...
  • A long-term onboarding programme. ...
  • Career Development Programs. ...
  • Mentoring/Coaching.
22 Apr 2020

What are the 4 major models of HRM? ›

The four HRM models are the Fombrun, Harvard, Guest and Warwick models. Often studied by HR students, these models provide a helpful framework for HR planning. Using them gives credibility and legitimacy to HR policies.

What are the 4 HR Strategies? ›

exter- nal labour orientation are combined to develop the four different HR strategies, which include Loyal Soldier (cost leadership/internal labour), Bargain Labourer (cost leadership/external labour), Free Agent (differentiation/external labour) and Committed Expert (differentiation/internal labour).

What are the 3 core HR competencies? ›

3 of the key competency areas for HR professionals today are: Relationship management. Business acumen. Ethics.

What are the 4 HR processes? ›

The following are the various HR processes: Human resource planning (Recruitment, Selecting, Hiring, Training, Induction, Orientation, Evaluation, Promotion and Layoff). Employee remuneration and Benefits Administration. Performance Management.

What are the 4 HRM objectives? ›

Especially, HRM objectives are 4 fold: societal, organisational, functional, and personal.

What are the 3 strategic methods? ›

Within the domain of well-defined strategy, there are uniquely different strategy types, here are three: Business strategy. Operational strategy. Transformational strategy.

What are three 3 characteristics a successful HR manager needs to have? ›

Here, we outline four essential qualities of a good HR managers that one can develop in order to advance up the career ladder.
  • Be a Great Communicator. ...
  • Be Aware Of Ethical Responsibilities. ...
  • Develop Outstanding Leadership and Conflict Management Skills. ...
  • Become an Expert in Organization and Multitasking.

What are your top 3 strengths as a HR executive? ›

Qualities of HR Manager are Sympathetic Attitude, Quick Decisions, Integrity, Patience, Formal Authority, Leadership, Social Responsibility, Good Communication Skills.

What are the 4 basic competencies that HR professionals will need? ›

Specific to the United States, the top five competencies senior HR leaders must possess are:
  • effective communication;
  • strategic thinking;
  • HR knowledge;
  • integrity; and.
  • ethical behavior.
3 Dec 2015

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Trent Wehner

Last Updated:

Views: 6713

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Trent Wehner

Birthday: 1993-03-14

Address: 872 Kevin Squares, New Codyville, AK 01785-0416

Phone: +18698800304764

Job: Senior Farming Developer

Hobby: Paintball, Calligraphy, Hunting, Flying disc, Lapidary, Rafting, Inline skating

Introduction: My name is Trent Wehner, I am a talented, brainy, zealous, light, funny, gleaming, attractive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.