With all the new tools that foster serendipity and real time feedback, do we really need HR? 
It will be curious to see how HR organizations use their charter to further contour and shape cultures by partnering with functions within organizations.
I recently shared how I believe that if we in the field of “People” don’t invest more in acceleration versus deceleration in the field of HR, we will work ourselves right out of a job.
The purpose of organizations in some cultures is to connect them to their societies and physical communities. This is more true today than ever with the powerful social networking tools sprouting up all over the HRIS ecosystem. Which is why I am advocating HR becoming an accelerator and do hope that they will become an enabler versus something that is slow, behemoth and/or an engine that protects and creates more silos.
The danger is certainly real to use these tools to create more silos and inadvertantly focus less on people.
Recently I saw a demo of an HR vendor who told me they have ‘communities’ and when I asked several foundational questions about what the charter, purpose and cultivation plans? The sales representative responded with a retort that took me back to the ole’ client/server days where the value was in the ‘push’ information.
Which is why I believethe time is now to think about the People, the PULL and Possibilities. With the new social tools, we have an opportunity to harness the power of real time peer feedback and accountability all the while fostering candor, transparency and honesty. If we empower people to be courageous, provide the with processes and tools along with a culture that embraces asking tough questions of one another and management, imagine where could we be?
Lastly, as someone who thinks about social learning and culture, I believe we have a a huge charter ahead of us, with much work to do especially with the advent of texting and such with our youth. We must not take our foot off the importance of in person communications that are foundational to healthy feedback, debate and sharing.
The time is now. So let us POUNCE together!
