ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the lessons that one have learnt at the implementation coal-face, where the theory meets reality. Business Partnering will only be a credible concept when the bread and butter HR service delivery works well. Launching business partnering without the solid foundation of reliable transactional service delivery will only damage credibility. Orion Partners have found a good starting point can be to paint the picture through describing in detail a typical Year in the Life of an HRBP. The hand-offs and role boundaries between the shared service, HRBPs and the Centre of Excellence (CofE) need to be defined and adhered to. While HR technical skills provide a useful grounding for the role, they are not what make for long-term success. The account and service managers in the shared service centres need to talk with the HRBP at least annually to collect their views and predictions for the changing requirements of the business.
