HR pros feeling the pressure

HR executives around the globe are facing increasing pressure to quantifiably demonstrate to businesses the benefits of their talent development programmes.

This is the finding of a survey conducted in December last year by LHK Partners on behalf of Right Management: Talent Management Challenges in an Era of Uncertainty. More than 2,000 HR executives from 14 countries currently working in the government, non-profit, and private sectors responded to the survey.

Globally, a vast majority (82%) of respondents either agreed or agreed somewhat with the statement – ‘At our organisation, we are under increased pressure to measure the business impact for talent development initiatives’.

“The survey findings show this is a global trend, and I presume it will only become more intense as top management demands better metrics as well as evidence that such programmes mesh with the organisation’s overall strategy,” Gerald Purgay, senior VP of Right Management, said.

The flip side, for Purgay, is that HR executives are becoming more adept at demonstrating the ROI of their leadership development initiatives. A global average of 68% agreed or agreed somewhat with the statement – ‘At our organisation, we are highly effective at measuring the business impact for talent development initiatives.’ The strongest agreement occurred in Brazil, China, India, and Singapore, which were also the countries where there was the greatest pressure to do so.

Breakdown by country:

1. India: 93%
2. Singapore: 93%
3. China: 91%
4. Brazil: 89%
5. Canada: 85%
6. UK: 85%
7. US: 83%
8. Norway: 79%
9. Australia: 76%
10. Japan: 76%
11. France: 75%
12. Netherlands: 69%
13. Belgium: 63%
14. Germany: 61%