Title: HR Business Partners
Author: Ian Hunter, Jane Saunders, Allan Boroughs and Simon Constance
Publisher: Gower
ISBN: 0566086255
Price: £55.00
Reviewer: Claudine McClean

The “HR as Business Partner” model requires a symbiotic relationship between HR and the line, based on mutual respect and HR delivering tangible, organisational benefit.

HR Business Partners endeavours to better understand this model and create a framework for how HR business partners can make a difference to their organisations and take the role forward.

The book outlines how the HR structure can enable – or indeed hamper – the success of HR in an organisation, and makes sensible, pragmatic suggestions for how a shared services model can work in a positive rather than simply reactive and subservient way.

The authors are not afraid to tackle the reality of outsourcing and how outsourcing of activities can free up internal HR to become more strategic in its intent. They do not, however, answer the question of how this can be achieved if the existing HR team are not capable or willing to move out of their administrative and policing comfort zone to really offer a strategic vision.

Unsurprisingly, when looking at how HR can increase its impact, there’s a reasonable section on IT in HR; offering advice on how to make sensible choices based on a real business case rather than the IT providers wish list.

In an area often overlooked by HR writers, the needs, fears and requirements of line managers receive careful consideration and there’s a revealing section on how HR is perceived outside the profession.

Perhaps the most revealing section is the ten pages outlining the lessons the authors have learned in implementing the HR BP model, as it is always good to know what bear traps are lying in wait.

The book is laid out and written in a well-structured and easy to follow manner, although at times it can tend towards the academic. There’s plenty of well thought-through models which keep the reading easy and the application of the content practical.

If you’re thinking of moving to an HR BP model, or are struggling to make an impact in a BP structure, this book could be a great way to help you plan the changes you need and to get the buy-in required to move forward

Review ratings:

• Overall 4
• Helpfulness 4
• Layout 3
• Value for money 3
• Suitability for professional level All
• Would you recommend it? Yes