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Specialist knowledge
People analytics
Using analytics to inform organisation decision-making
This area is about gathering and using data and information to provide insights into people issues and guide decision-making.
It involves understanding research design, framing of questions, and the quantitative and qualitative techniques which help to address organisational issues or challenges.
Analytical consulting enables the exploration of issues and problems in a methodical way, in order to shape solutions. Approaches will involve knowledge of statistical analysis, interpretation and presentation of data in a meaningful way.
This combination of people intelligence, combined with improved decision-making, should maximise our ability as people professionals to make informed and actionable recommendations.
'Data transparency relating to the workforce is critical if data is to be used by line managers in their decision-making [...] Individuals in organisations with strong people analytics cultures also report strong business outcomes. People analytics cultures are also positively related to perceptions of HR strategy, demonstrating their importance in organisations wishing to improve overall outcomes.'
CIPD 'People analytics: driving business performance with people data' (2018: 35)
People analytics 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:
- What databases are used in your organisation
- What analytical consulting is
- How data is generated, organised and extracted
- How to create basic data models (eg analysis of change over time)
- How to carry out basic quantitative research techniques
- How to conduct data analysis (eg means, medians, percentiles, correlations, standard deviations)
- How to use data tables and how to turn data into simple charts and graphs
Associate level
At this level you'll understand:
- Databases, their architecture, integration and landscape
- How to apply analytical consulting to people problems
- Business intelligence tools and analysis methodologies
- How people data modelling is influenced by machine learning and statistical modelling
- How to conduct research design and select from a range of qualitative and quantitative techniques to address issues
- How to do simple multivariate analysis (eg regression analysis, factor analysis)
- Various data visualisation techniques to represent data and insights
Chartered Member level
At this level you'll understand:
- Databases, their architecture, integration and landscape and how to select which database to use
- How to apply an analytical consulting approach to problems to shape solutions
- How to generate and align people data with business intelligence data to generate insights
- How people data modelling is influenced by machine learning and statistical modelling
- How to conduct research design and select from a range of qualitative and quantitative techniques to address issues
- How to do advanced multivariate analysis (eg structured equation modelling)
- Various data visualisation techniques and how to translate into actionable recommendations
Chartered Fellow level
At this level you'll understand:
- Databases, their architecture, integration with other databases, landscape and how they drive strategic decision-making
- How to use analytical consulting to inform organisation decision-making
- How to generate and align people data with business intelligence data to inform strategic decision-making
- How to align modelling methodologies to people and business intelligence data
- How to shape research design using innovations in practice to effectively analyse organisation problems
- The value of multivariate analysis in addressing organisation problems
- Innovations, good practice and effective approaches to convey data, including storytelling techniques
Resources to guide your work, career planning and development, available on the CIPD's main site.
- Analytics: how HR can influence strategy through data - Podcast
- Getting started with people analytics: a practitioner's guide - Guide
- People analytics - Factsheet
- Human capital analytics and reporting - Report
- Narrative Reporting - Podcast
- People analytics: driving business performance with people data - Report
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