ABSTRACT
HR functions are being asked to do more with fewer resources and to do so in increasingly challenging environments. This chapter provides a framework to help HR practitioners decide whether changes may be required and to understand how performing HR activities differently may impact the effectiveness of the HR function, as well as its role in the organization. An intimate knowledge of the politics, the personalities and the daily details are required to be in a position to formulate strategy and to make critical decisions for the organization about how it succeeds through its people. Some organizations are obsessed with headcount control as a method to ensure there is no overstaffing or inefficiency, while others attempt to control expenditures on salaries. If HR activities are to be outsourced to others, it must be decided whether a single, full-service provider will be used or if specific activities will be parceled out to several specialized providers.
