Aligning Human Resources and Business Strategy, 2nd Edition

Chapter 1

Introduction: From BusinessPartnering to Leadership

HR passes the wallet test when it creates human abilities and organizational capabilities that are substantially better than those of the firm's competitors – and thus move customers and shareholders to reach for their wallets.

(Dave Ulrich and Wayne Brockbank, 2005)

In the decade since I wrote the first edition of this book, the pace of change in the global business environment has accelerated, new forms of organization and ways of doing business have arisen. Globalization has produced an interwoven set of challenges affecting business, organizations, consumers, workers and society as a whole. Indeed, the nature of work and the expectations of workers have been transformed and change ...