Digital technologies reshape HR management in China

Dave Ulrich, HR management guru and professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, speaks at the Talent Economy Forum in Beijing, August 10, 2016. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Human resources (HR) managers shared their insights on HR transformation in the digital era at the second Talent Economy Forum held on Wednesday in Beijing.

The era of mobile internet, with its new technologies and business models, has brought new challenges and opportunities to business in all sectors, said Hao Jie, general manager of Beijing Foreign Enterprise Human Resources Service Co Ltd (FESCO), which co-organized the forum with Harvard Business Review.

He said companies from various sectors should form partnerships and create a sharing economy platform to meet the challenges and better manage the unpredictable future.

Create value for business: Dave Ulrich

Dave Ulrich, HR management guru and professor at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, emphasized the need to shape HR to create value for business in a keynote speech delivered to the forum.

"HR is not just about HR. Everything we do in HR is important because it builds value to business," he said.

Digital transformation for HR managers（HRs）is not about the technology such as the digital system, or the cloud, but about the information HRs bring inside from the customers that allow the employees to connect with customers, Ulrich said.

He suggested HRs to change their perspective, think outside in, connect to investors and customers, and look beyond strategy.