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The central importance to the future of HR is powerful insight, rooted in a deep understanding of the organisation, business and situational context. This will be one of the core themes of this week’s Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s (CIPD) Annual Conference and Exhibition. Insight needs to be articulated through strategies and leadership behaviours that work now but, more importantly, deliver long-term and lasting results. This is encapsulated in the latest report from the CIPD’s Next Generation HR research project, which is launched today and emphasises the primary purpose of HR in driving sustainable performance.

Dr John McGurk, Learning and Talent Adviser, CIPD, said: “This move towards an insight driven approach to HR will take time to embed in organisations across all sectors and it will involve keeping an eye on the global dimensions of the business. Part of the process involves becoming more business savvy, both in mindset and application. HR needs to have a heightened understanding of every section of the business, particularly the operational functions, which impact the bottom-line. This is the only way to ensure HR is consistently delivering real business impact and sustainable performance.”

This issue will be explored further in the session (E3): Giving HR the Business Edge: how HR can drive impact and influence, on Wednesday 9 November at the CIPD annual Conference and Exhibition (09:30-10:45).

Also on the agenda today is a session looking at the issue of trust, which is important for the long-term performance of an organisation. Vanessa Robinson, Head of HR Practice Development, CIPD, said: “If trust levels are high, organisations experience superior problem-solving and co-operation, increased information sharing and a reduced need for constant monitoring and quality checks. There is also greater acceptance of organisational change initiatives. CIPD research has shown that a high level of trust between employees creates a climate of well-being among all people in the workplace resulting in better job satisfaction and greater motivation. We’ve also found worrying falls in the levels of trust employees have in their managers and senior leaders within their organisations. A collective failure to tackle this crisis in trust risks not just holding back individual organisations, but placing a brake on economic growth and global recovery.”

Speakers from Cass Business School and John Lewis will present highlights from new practical research into trust at the session (E4): Where has all the trust gone? Exploring Organisational Performance and Trust, on Wednesday 9 November at the CIPD annual Conference and Exhibition (09:30-10:45).

For further information on these or any other sessions at the CIPD annual Conference and Exhibition, visit www.cipd.co.uk/cande/annual or contact the Conference Press Office.

• View Next Generation HR: Insight driven