In discussing HR technology with the VP of HR of a large, global manufacturer this morning, I used the phrase "you need an air traffic controller." After saying it, we joked about the Air Traffic Control computer glitch earlier this week, that he didnt want to be similar to.
In today's Chicago Tribune, this cartoon then caught my eye. Based on his comments, and my four hour flight delay earlier this week getting to California; I may need to change my analogy. In all seriousness, what every HR organization needs is someone like an "air traffic controller" at Chicago O'Hare. More and more flights, more and more cost concerns, more and more unknowns. HR technology space and the airline industry (another bad comparison)....Ok, I give up for now.
Another infusion of knowledge...(humor?)
What HR needs is more relief, Jason. Now relief can take many forms. I think relief in the form of increased headcount is the answer. And this headcount does not necessarily need to reside in HR. In other words, HR should be able to put tools into managers' hands to help them be better managers. They should also put tools and information in employees' hands as well.
This would likely cut down on not just on the transaction burden of HR. It would also cut down on the number of issues (e.g., employee relations, turnover, etc.) with which HR needs to deal.
And non-HR people should be big influencers on HR strategy. If only the airlines were this customer-friendly, right?!
Not really sure where this fits in your air traffic analogy. I suppose shifting responsibility as I suggest would be like telling people to take the bus or a train. But these days, companies operating in that part of the travel and, eh, leisure industry have more capacity than airlines do.