The HR Leadership Series: Maximising Technology and Analytics

Technology could and should play a big role in understanding and managing the workforce effectively. But that’s sometimes easier said than done.

In the latest episode of the HR Leadership Series, Lancaster University’s Dr Anthony Hesketh tells AdviserPlus CEO Nick Bradley his views on the role of technology in unlocking effective people management.

Dr Hesketh said that many businesses approach technology differently now to ten years ago, when they bought off-the-shelf enterprise resource planning programs that often failed to make good on big promises.

He said: “A decade later people are much more sensitive about going out and buying technology now because they have had their fingers burned.”

Dr Hesketh said the challenges around technology include:

• The need to invest solely in software that is necessary – and not overpay for programs with functions that won’t be used
• To be flexible enough to adapt as technology changes with variable rather than fixed costs
• To ensure tech helps us to really understand the workforce more
• To make sure employees can see that colleagues who are going through a tough time are treated fairly.

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