Social networking is changing how employees want to interact in the workplace. With so many ways to represent themselves on social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn, employees want more control of their personal brand in the office as well. Looking at how HR-related business applications will need to change to meet employees' evolving expectations, this article explores the three core concepts behind a next-generation talent management solution.
A new way of working is emerging rapidly in the enterprise, fueled by instant access to information on mobile devices and ongoing information-sharing through social networking. The prevalence of social networking and collaboration systems outside the workplace is changing how individuals, regardless of their age, expect to interact with technology and colleagues on the job. HR-related business applications will need to change to meet these evolving expectations.
In recent surveys of employees from various companies, SAP found a striking similarity between user expectations of HR-related applications and those from social networking. We heard sentiments such as "I like people to recognize my contributions," "I need a work environment that fosters my professional development," and "Collaborating with my network of colleagues helps me get my job done."
Employees told us that they no longer consider an annual review adequate to accurately gauge their performance; they crave more frequent feedback, including recognition for their contributions and accomplishments, from both managers and peers. Employees also want to collaborate and network with their colleagues as easily as they do with friends on Facebook.
All of this is good for business because it indicates that employees are more engaged in their work. Unfortunately, many of the HR systems in place at companies don't support this model. The existing systems are more focused on enforcing HR processes rather than supporting people in how they want to work. As a result, the HR organization is often seen as administrative and an enforcer of tedious rules and not as an enabler of employee engagement and business success.
SAP has established three core concepts that next-generation HR solutions should focus on to address the current needs of the HR organization and give employees more control over the management of their performance (see sidebar). HR solutions should:
- Be people-centric, not process-centric or role-centric
- Emphasize networking and collaboration between workers in the context of their performance and goals, rather than function as a static warehouse of employee information
- Provide insight for everyone, including employees, managers, and HR
Leveraging these core concepts will provide next-generation talent management that will help companies empower and engage their employees and increase the efficiency of their workforce for optimal performance.