TRANSFORMING HR: Creating Value Through People

E.learning Age, Sep 2005 by Yee, Rachel

TRANSFORMING HR: Creating Value Through People Reddington, Williamson, Withers ISBN 0-7506-6447-9 304 pages, Elsevier ButterworthHeinemann, £24.99

People always say that you learn from experience, and since this book provides excellent practical guidance to delivering successful human resources (HR) transformation drawn from personal experiences, it is something that should be on every HR professional's bookshelf.

The authors assert that HR is not always stretched to its full potential. With that as its starting point, the book provides a guide to all the vital steps to take. From visualising a winning HR department, to putting that into context, to looking at costs and benefits, to actually putting the plan into action, to evaluating what you have achieved, to continuing the transformation thereafter. It demonstrates how to juggle economic issues with working for a high-demand business in a world of constantly advancing technology. Furthermore, to erase any doubt about the reliability of Transforming HR, everything in it has been tried and tested and any myths cut out.

One reason why this handbook is so useful is because the three authors are passionate about making HR better for everyone and it is reflected in the writing. While there are already numerous books about strategic HR management available, this book attempts to stand out because it contains practitioners' perspectives on what plans are effective and, perhaps more importantly, what plans may look effective on the outside but when executed do not work in the long term. Whilst this readable and insightful book offers techniques and tools, it is also supported with clear illustrations and diagrams.

Transforming HR is written specifically for HR practitioners and is certainly a worthwhile read for anybody who fits into that category. The introduction to the book claims: "Serious HR professionals will turn to this series if they aspire to make a real difference in their organisation." In that sense Transforming HR tries to do what it says on the tin.

RACHEL YEE

(Work Experience Student)