hp strategies for system alignment and renewal
TRANSCRIPT
2
Performance Improvement, vol. 48, no. 1, January 2009©2009 International Society for Performance ImprovementPublished online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) • DOI: 10.1002/pfi.20041
ED I TOR ’S NOTES
HP STRATEGIES FOR SYSTEMALIGNMENT AND RENEWAL
Holly Burkett, CPT
HAPPY NEW YEAR! As we begin 2009 with a focus on resolutions geared towards personal and profes-
sional improvement, it seems fitting to start our first issue of the year with an important,timely feature about system renewal and adaptability. Specifically, Nicholas Andreadispresents a conceptualization of the organization as one large, organic “processing unit”whose primary purpose is to create valuable products and services through a series ofinterdependent and linked work processes. Andreadis presents a systems framework withdistinct subsystems: governance, management, work, and people. Each subsystem isunique unto itself with overlapping, interdependent inputs, outputs, and consequences.The author asserts that high-performing organizations are characterized by the purpose-ful behavior and adaptability of its systems, subsystems, processes, and behavior, and heencourages human performance technology (HPT) professionals to periodically assessall organizational systems for alignment and renewal.
In the spirit of applying a systems framework, Mike Kolich describes a case studyshowing how a Canadian automotive company used audit measures to address deficien-cies in its human resource management system and fulfill its mission of being a globalleader in people development, quality execution, and consumer value. The author’s sys-temic approach for increasing the linkage of the company’s performance managementsystem to organizational mission, values, and strategic objectives has broad implicationsfor the implementation of any performance improvement initiative.
Joel Gendelman furthers the case for strategic alignment by offering a process toincrease the alignment of instructional curricula with defined business needs. Thisprocess is intended to help practitioners increase their responsiveness, reduce curricu-lum acquisition and development costs, and better support current business initiatives.
Donald Tosti closes this issue by challenging HPT professionals to focus on businessand cultural alignment by asking, “What kind of culture do we need to ensure that wecan deliver the value we promise to our customers?” Tosti reminds practitioners that attheir most fundamental level, all organizations are human behavioral systems, and anysystematic approach needs to pay special attention to the people who must deliver on thebrand promise of that organization. In looking for ways to add value-added services,professionals must continually assess performance-based processes, programs, and prod-ucts in terms of usefulness and the customer’s total experience with the product or ser-vice. That is, does it help people make more effective decisions or take more effectiveaction?
Along that vein, we hope that your total experience with Performance Improvementwill be a useful one in 2009 and that the lessons learned from our lineup of authors willadd value to the performance improvement decisions and actions you take in the yearahead.
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTOFFICERS
Matt Peters, PresidentDarlene Van Tiem, President-electJeanne Farrington, Past PresidentTimm Esque, DirectorMary Norris Thomas, DirectorPaul Cook, DirectorDavid Hartt, DirectorSteven Kelly, DirectorApril Syring Davis, Executive Director
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENTEDITORIAL GROUPApril Syring Davis, PublisherHolly Burkett, EditorJohn Y. Chen, Publications Manager
INTERNATIONAL MARKETINGKinam Sung, Korea
EDITORIAL, ADVERTISING, ANDMEMBERSHIP OFFICEInternational Society for Performance Improvement1400 Spring Street, Suite 260Silver Spring, MD 20910Phone 301-587-8570Fax 301-587-8573
Performance Improvement (formerly Performance & Instruction) (ISSN: 1090-8811, electronic ISSN:1930-8272) is published monthly except for combined May/June andNovember/December issues by WileyPeriodicals, Inc., a Wiley Company.
Copyright © 2009, International Society for Performance Improvement. All rights reserved.
Periodicals Postage Paid at Hoboken,NJ, and additional mailing offices.
Subscriptions: $75 for individuals and $299 for institutions in the U.S.For all subscription inquiries contact:Wiley Periodicals, Inc., 989 MarketStreet, San Francisco, CA 94103-1741.Phone: 888-378-2537 (toll-free);415-433-1767 (toll call).Fax: 888-481-2665 (toll-free);415-951-8553 (toll number).Email: [email protected].
Postmaster: Send address changes to the subscription address above.
Performance Improvement is com-mitted to presenting multiple voices and perspectives related to the prac-tice of human performance technol-ogy. Opinions of the authors do notnecessarily represent the beliefs ofISPI or the editor.