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SINGAPORE (The Straits Times / ANN): Some roles played by human resource (HR) managers are at risk of being taken over by robots in the near future, according to a study commissioned by the Ministry of Human Resources and the Institute of Human Resources Professionals (IHRP) has found.
Of the 27 HR roles that were analyzed, 24 will be affected by technology to varying degrees in the next three to five years, according to the study by consulting, brokerage and solutions firm Willis Towers Watson published Thursday (10 from December).
Eight of these roles will be more severely affected and are at risk of being replaced. These are lower-level positions in areas such as talent management, performance and rewards, as well as organization development.
This is because the tasks in these roles are administrative in nature and can be automated with advancements in robotic process automation, machine learning, and social robotics.
The remaining 16 jobs, which are at the manager and boss level, will be augmented by technology and require skills in areas such as data analysis.
Only three jobs will see minimal impact from automation: Head of Talent Management, HR Business Partner, and Organization Development Manager.
Meanwhile, technological advances will lead to the creation of new roles in HR that are highly specialized, such as an HR data analyst, the study found.
“In the long term, people analytics will be a key skill required by all HR roles rather than a dedicated role,” Willis Towers Watson said in his report.
The firm noted that the study highlights the need for HR to reinvent itself by driving business transformation.
Leaders in the field must also recognize the need for new HR capabilities, such as the use of predictive analytics, the firm added.
Investing and adopting technology in HR will increase efficiency and enable HR to more effectively deliver “seamless and cutting edge” services and experiences, State Minister for Human Resources Zaqy Mohamad said Thursday.
“This will allow HR to pursue more strategic, high-value activities and unlock value creation for the business,” added Zaqy, speaking at the People Behind People Forum where he announced the study’s findings.
He added that MOM will continue to support companies to strengthen their human resource capabilities and help human resource professionals acquire new skills to remain relevant.
The IHRP is also developing training courses for HR professionals to acquire skills to prepare for the digital transformation of the industry.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who also spoke at the forum, said HR professionals have been the invisible heroes in keeping workers safe and organizations running during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He added that HR professionals will have an even bigger role to play, as Covid-19 has accelerated business transformation.
In his speech, Zaqy urged companies and HR leaders to invest in improving HR productivity by adopting technology and supporting skills development.
“HR professionals must also step up and take charge of developing their own skills and adopt a growth mindset when embracing digitization,” he said. – The Straits Times / Asia News Network
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