The largest HR organization in the world and its smaller counterpart targeted to senior-level human resource leaders have announced a partnership that will bring the two groups together operationally and strategically.
The Society for Human Resource Management and the CHR
O-focused HR People & Strategy (HRPS, which was previously the Human Resource Planning Society) said the “new strategic affiliation” will “better meet the needs of HR professionals at every stage of their career.”
Although no mention was made of merging the two organizations, the announcement said it will provide for dual memberships, and will allow them to share research and offer webinars and educational programs. In addition, the announcement, which came from SHRM, said the partnership will “Create a stronger, higher-impact and unified voice on human capital issues both domestically and globally.”
SHRM President and CEO Henry Jackson added, “As a result, together we will be better positioned to impact the practice of human resource management for business results globally, as well as deliver high-quality programming and services to all HR professionals no matter where they are in their career.”
For HRPS, Kevin Rubens, the group’s board chair and a Korn/Ferry International senior partner, said the partnership gives it “access to the professionals, resources and platform we need to advance our mission and create a stronger HR community.”
Founded in 1977 as the Human Resource Planning Society, at about 3,000 national and chapter members HRPS is a fraction the size of SHRM. Unlike SHRM, which has a professional staff and management, HRPS is almost entirely volunteer-run. Administration is outsourced.
Historically it has focused on strategic human resource, attracting executive-level HR professionals, consultants and thought leaders. Its founding mission, according to Rubens, was to “bring people together who were interested in advancing the science and art of human resource management.”
SHRM, with its broader practitioner-led constituency, has emphasized the operational aspects of the profession. Thus, while many HR executives are SHRM members, they are small part of its overall 260,000 members.
“Part of SHRM’s long-term strategic growth plan is to be a resource for all segments of HR professionals.,” explained SHRM Board Chair Bette J. Francis, SPHR. “The new affiliation with HRPS allows SHRM to expand its community of senior-level HR professionals.”