There have been a number of names for HR practitioners over the years. One of more recent ones is 'HR Business Partner' which was first championed by HR guru Dave Ulrich in 1997 as the way to forward the HR profession.
The term HR business partner implies that HR practitioners work proactively with line managers at all levels of the business they work in. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) say that "Business partnering makes HR accountable to the business, and expects HR to add real value. This is a shift away from traditional HR functions where purpose, priorities and successes were defined form within HR."
While there have been a number of HR practitioners who have taken this leap and are taken seriously by business, those practitioners those who have not taken this step risk becoming irrelevant and possibly redundant in years to come.
Good luck on your journey in becoming a HR business partner and making that difference!!!
Tony
HumanResources Magazine, 2008
