Dave ulrich hr from the outside in

Human resources (HR) has traditionally been seen as a support function, working invisibly in the background to make sure the organizational gears are tuned up and working smoothly.

Dave Ulrich, a renowned HR scholar and author of seminal works like "The Why of Work, The Leadership Code" and "The HR Value Proposition", firmly believes that HR must adopt an outside-in orientation: that instead of a singular focus on employees, HR needs to be focused on delivering value to stakeholders outside the firm.

In this interview, Ulrich, often acknowledged as the "father of modern HR", elaborates on what he means by this outside-in focus, the evolving role of HR in a changing world, and how our understanding of organizations themselves needs to change.

Think:Act: You say that people matter, but organizations mat