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Understanding how to effectively enable change
Core knowledge
Technology and people
Understanding the impact of technology on people at work
Technology and people is about understanding the role of technology and the impact it has on the people function and the broader workforce. Knowing how technology can improve the agility and productivity of workforces and organisations, and how it can enable more collaborative working.
The way we work is changing. With many more people now working at home, and with many organisations adopting a hybrid approach to working, the way that people professionals have had to use technology to enable their people practices has also changed. Practitioners are having to adapt their people practices for remote and hybrid working, and bring the people perspective to technology-based approaches, such as bringing learning online, or enabling greater online HR self-service for the workforce.
And, as things change, we also have a role in determining the impact of technology on the people function and the workforce: understanding how roles will change, what new skills and capabilities will be needed, and how to use technology to enhance the people proposition.
This area of the Profession Map covers the core knowledge needed to be an effective people professional who can bring the people perspective to technology, and identify opportunities to maximise the benefits of technology for the workforce.
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Technology and people standards
Each standard progresses through four levels of impact. Which level do you most embody in your day-to-day work?
Foundation level
At this level you'll understand:
- The range of technology that is used in the people profession and its impact on your work
- How technology can be used to help people work more collaboratively, and the opportunities and risks associated with it
- The benefits and risks of social media, and how to use it effectively in your area of work
- The role of people professionals in designing technology-enabled people practices
- The benefits and risks of technology for people and organisations
Associate level
At this level you'll understand:
- What technology is available in your area of the people profession and how it can improve the worker experience
- The range of technologies that enable collaboration in different situations
- How to use social media in your work to improve the worker experience and organisation brand
- How to contribute to the design of technology-enabled people practices
- How to review the impact of technology on roles and people processes
Chartered Member level
At this level you'll understand:
- Technologies which make organisations more agile (e.g. robotic process automation, extended reality, intelligent chatbots), and how to use technology to support the delivery of people practices
- How to maximise collaboration through technology to improve performance
- How to use social media to positively impact your organisation (e.g. building belonging and community, enabling employee voice, building employer brand)
- How to bring the people perspective to the design of technology-enabled people practices
- How to assess the impact of current and future technology on the workforce and people practices
Chartered Fellow level
At this level you'll understand:
- Emerging technologies which make organisations more agile (e.g. intelligent automation such as robotic process automation, extended reality, intelligent chatbots) and how to use these to enhance the people proposition
- How to embed collaboration through technology into culture and strategy to improve performance
- How to leverage social media across the people proposition
- How to shape and embed digital transformation from a people and culture perspective
- How technology will influence future workforce needs
Resources to guide your work, career planning and development, available on the CIPD's main site.
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