Delivering on the Promise: How to Attract, Manage and Retain Human Capital - Hardcover

Friedman, Brian; Hatch, James A.; Walker, David M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0684856581 ISBN 13: 9780684856582

Publisher: Free Press, 1998

Synopsis

Business has long struggled with the notion of "human capital," but do companies really know the value of their people? All too frequently, companies lay off thousands of workers to boost share price while, at the same time, their annual reports promise that "people are our greatest asset!" Now, for the first time, human capital experts Brian Friedman, James Hatch, and David M. Walker show how companies can deliver on this promise. They reveal how Arthur Andersen's breakthrough five-stage framework, "Human Capital Appraisal," enables managers to measure, manage, and leverage their companies' investment in people. The authors describe specifically how managers can evaluate the current effectiveness of a firm's human capital strategies and the efficiency of its current Human Resources programs. They explain how to measure the amount of time and money management spends to recruit, develop, and manage human resources. Then they focus on how a firm can assess the return on this investment, minimize risk, and leverage the value of its human capital resources. Finally, the authors demonstrate how such leading companies as Colgate Palmolive, The Chicago Tribune, Mobil Oil, The Body Shop, Holy Cross Hospital, Hyatt Hotels, IBM, and British Petroleum are realizing the value of their people through human capital programs. This unique, proven, and proprietary methodology makes this invaluable book required reading for every chief executive, human resources director, and line manager.

About this title

Review:

After exploring strategic planning, TQM, and reengineering, many management consultants began seriously concentrating on the people who actually populate and drive the workplace--just as a tightening employment market makes it more difficult than ever to attract and retain a top staff. The consultants at Arthur Andersen, under a motto proclaiming they "realize the value of people," have been focusing on this so-called human capital side of business through a proprietary approach that's based upon their experiences with firms like Land Rover Vehicles, IBM, Mobil Oil, and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Previously offered only to clients, this methodology is now laid out for all to see (and use) in Delivering on the Promise: How to Attract, Manage, and Retain Human Capital. Partners Brian Friedman, James Hatch, and David M. Walker present a step-by-step exploration of the process and what it may mean to businesses in the future; along the way they explain how to evaluate existing personnel and personnel-related programs in relation to specific company goals and how to realign corporate focus whenever necessary. Individual chapters follow the five stages of human-capital development as identified in Anderson's "Five Squared" program: clarification, assessment, design, implementation, and monitoring. --Howard Rothman

About the Author:

Brian Friedman is Global Managing Partner of Arthur Andersen's Human Capital Services Practice based in London and has actively pioneered Human Capital Appraisal in countries as diverse as Japan, South Africa, and India as well as in the United States and the United Kingdom.

About this edition

• Publisher: Free Press
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0684856581
• ISBN 13: 9780684856582
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240