PEOPLE OPS FUTURIST: WHAT’S THE FUTURE OF PEOPLE OPERATIONS?

People operations futurists and keynote speakers observe that the field is growing for many reasons, as outlined here…

• War for talent – With talent shortages in many industries, the best people operations futurists say there is intense competition for skilled workers. Advanced people ops and employee experience strategies are seen as a competitive edge.
• Remote/hybrid work – Managing a remote or hybrid workforce requires rethinking policies, technologies, and operations. Solutions help enable more flexible work models.
• Data analytics – According to top people operations futurists, sophisticated people analytics and data-driven insights allow for optimizing the workforce in ways not possible before. The practice leverages this.
• Culture – Organizations recognize culture is a major driver of engagement, retention and performance. Industry pros play a lead role in cultural development.
• Changing workforce – Younger generations have new expectations around purpose, development, flexibility and more. POPS helps attract and retain these workers.
• Technology disruption – From AI to automation, emerging technologies are transforming jobs. Practitioners aid in reskilling workers and adapting to industry changes.
• Compliance risks – Regulations around pay equity, diversity, inclusion and overall employment law are increasing. The way people operations futurists and keynote speakers put it, the concept help mitigate compliance risks.
• Agility and innovation – The industry supports more agile organization structures and ways of working needed for innovation.

How to bring it all together? Let’s say that people ops futurists see it as essential for gaining competitive advantage through strategic management of talent in a complex, rapidly changing business environment. An investment in POPS now is seen as crucial for future success.