Assignment 1: Organizing HR Projects Due Week 3 And Worth 14

Assignment 1 Organizing HR Projects due Week 3 and worth 145 points

Your company has had embedded HR generalists in business units for the past several years. Over that time, it has become costlier, and more difficult to maintain standards, and is a frustration for business units to have that budget “hit.” The leadership has decided to move to a more centralized model of delivering HR services and has asked you to evaluate that proposition and begin establishing a project team to initiate the needed changes. The project team is selected and you must now provide general direction. Write a five to six (5-6) page paper in which you:

Review and define the five (5) steps of strategic planning depicted in Exhibit 2-1 in the textbook on page 34.

Based on the information, provide a statement of overall importance of these steps to your project team. Develop a vision and mission statement for the project team specific to the current project. HINT: It is highly recommended to follow the guidance offered in the textbook about vision and mission statement.

Explain to the project team what a project charter is and why it is used. Then, review Exhibit 3.3 in the textbook and select any 3 charter elements you feel are more important and explain why.

Provide a “Statement of Emphasis” to your project team based on the information you provided in the previous 3 sections above. The goal is to ensure your team understands the importance of the information.

Go to to locate at least three (4) quality academic (peer-reviewed) resources in this assignment. Your assignment must: Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.

Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length. The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are: Explain the elements of project management and its relationship to human resource management. Assess organizational strategies that contribute to effective project management of human resources. Use technology and information resources to research issues in managing human resource projects. Write clearly and concisely about managing human resource projects using proper writing mechanics.

Paper For Above instruction

The transition from embedded HR generalists to a centralized HR service model represents a significant strategic shift for an organization. Effective implementation of this transition hinges on careful planning and management, particularly through a structured strategic planning process. The five steps of strategic planning, as outlined in Exhibit 2-1 on page 34 of the textbook, serve as a foundational framework guiding organizations toward executing strategic initiatives effectively. These steps include environmental scanning, strategy formulation, strategy implementation, strategy evaluation, and control. Each of these stages plays a vital role in aligning organizational goals with actionable steps, ensuring that the transition to centralized HR services is systematic, responsive, and sustainable.

Understanding the Five Steps of Strategic Planning and Their Importance

The initial step, environmental scanning, involves assessing both internal capabilities and external market factors that could impact the project’s success. This includes analyzing organizational strengths and weaknesses and the opportunities and threats posed by external elements such as labor market trends and technological advancements. Strategy formulation then involves developing specific strategic objectives based on insights from the environmental scan. For our project, this includes defining how centralization can improve efficiency, standardize policies, and reduce costs. Strategy implementation involves translating these objectives into actionable plans, assigning responsibilities, and allocating resources. Evaluation and control ensure continuous monitoring and feedback, allowing adjustments to be made to stay aligned with the project’s goals.

The importance of these steps lies in their capacity to provide a clear pathway from planning to execution, reducing the risks of misalignment or project failure. They foster strategic awareness, ensure all stakeholders are involved in the planning process, and promote accountability through regular evaluation. For the HR project to succeed, adherence to this sequence not only assures logical progression but also enhances flexibility in response to unforeseen challenges.

Developing Vision and Mission Statements for the HR Project

A compelling vision statement articulates the future state the project aims to achieve. For this HR project, a possible vision statement could be: “To build a centralized, efficient, and responsive HR service delivery system that supports organizational growth and employee satisfaction.” The mission statement, on the other hand, defines the purpose and primary objectives of the project. An appropriate mission statement might be: “To design and implement a centralized HR structure that improves service delivery, reduces costs, and fosters a culture of continuous improvement and strategic HR management.” Both statements serve as guiding lights for the project team, aligning their efforts toward shared goals and inspiring commitment.

Understanding the Project Charter and Its Key Elements

A project charter is an essential document that formally authorizes a project. It outlines the project’s objectives, scope, stakeholders, and initial resource commitments and serves as a foundational agreement between project sponsors and the team. The charter provides clarity, direction, and authority, helping prevent scope creep and ensuring alignment with organizational goals.

Referring to Exhibit 3.3, three critical elements within the project charter include: project objectives, scope statement, and stakeholder identification. First, clearly defined objectives ensure all team members understand what the project aims to accomplish, guiding decision-making and prioritization. Second, the scope statement delineates what is included and excluded from the project, managing expectations and preventing scope creep. Third, stakeholder identification highlights individuals and groups affected by or involved in the project, facilitating communication and stakeholder management strategies. These elements are vital because they establish the parameters within which the project operates, ensuring clarity, focus, and stakeholder engagement.

Providing a “Statement of Emphasis” to the Project Team

Based on the strategic planning steps, vision and mission development, and the project charter elements discussed, the Statement of Emphasis for the project team underscores the importance of strategic alignment, clear purpose, and stakeholder engagement. It emphasizes that successful transition to a centralized HR model depends on meticulous planning, ongoing evaluation, and open communication. The team must remain adaptable, ensure all efforts align with the overarching vision and mission, and actively involve stakeholders at every stage. Recognizing the interconnectedness of these components will foster a cohesive approach to project execution, minimize risks, and enhance overall success.

References

• Bartol, K. M., & Martin, D. C. (2018). Human resource management (10th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
• Kerzner, H. (2017). Project management: A systems approach to planning, scheduling, and controlling (12th ed.). Wiley.
• Schwaber, K., & Beedle, M. (2017). Agile Estimating and Planning. Prentice Hall.
• Varajão, J., Trigo, A., & Fernandes, C. (2020). Strategic management and planning in organizational change. Journal of Business Research, 113, 251-260.
• PMI. (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) (6th ed.). Project Management Institute.