How does HR maximize its value within China today?
Pete Sanborn: First and foremost, HR needs to get the fundamentals down and build a strong foundation, including efficient HR processes, a solid technology platform and HR shared services. Traditionally Chinese companies have added people to fix inefficiencies, rather than identify the needed outcomes and develop the needed HR processes and capabilities. Once the fundamentals are mastered, HR can provide on-going value by supplying the right talent and engaging and developing the talent needed to make their organizations successful. Sharon Li: Until recently, most Chinese companies have typically hired new graduates from universities, and then promoted them from within. These graduates tend to be younger and less experienced than their counterparts in other countries, and HR therefore needs to be able to provide strong training and development to help them evolve. Now, many of these companies are also recognizing the need to hire more experienced professionals, and that need places dif
