Stewardship, 2nd Edition

Institutional Caretaker

We have designed human resources policies and used the HR function to deliver on this promise of protection and satisfaction. Granted, the idea that a company can provide protection is disappearing, but still the fatherly framework for people policies is common.

Choosing stewardship, however, means fundamentally rethinking our human resources policies and the role of the HR function. Stated most simply, it is a move from parent to partner in how we hire, fire, pay, appraise, train, promote, transfer, provide benefits, and improve the organization. HR has the task of creating policies in these areas and ensuring their implementation. Muscle, in the form of approval authority, has been given to the function to ensure compliance ...