Business psychologist as an HR partner. Strategic approach and practical aspects of work in the personnel management system

On the 18^th of February 2nd year students of the master's program "Psychology in business" had a master-class of HR expert, psychologist Svetlana Gray on "Business psychologist as an HR partner. Strategic approach and practical aspects of work in the system of personnel management" during their course "Modern HR technologies". 

Svetlana, a graduate of the Department of social psychology of faculty of psychology of Moscow state University, graduated from the Higher school of psychology, specialty "Personnel Management". She has additional education in management, Finance, marketing. Since the late 90s she has passed a way from the ordinary expert HR service to HR Director of the holding company. As HR she worked in the personnel management services of major Russian banks: OJSC "GUTA-BANK", OJSC "BANK RUSSIAN CREDIT", as the Director of personnel in companies : NPO "Economy", "Alkor","Dalgakiran – M" company.

The activities in the personnel management system of the organization are relevant for business psychologist. That is why the students had a useful conversation with a professional who had an extensive practical experience as a business psychologist and HR.

During the master class the stages of formation of HR with the development of the company, effective organizational structure of the personnel management Service corresponding to the basic HR functions were discussed.

Great attention was paid to the position of HR partner and its fundamental difference from the legacy system "HR", "pickers", experts on intra-firm learning, traditional views of psychologists-consultants.

Currently, there is a growing understanding that human resources are the most important for the development of the organization. HR partner is a Manager of high level, which together with the top managers developing strategy of the company and implements it, being it business partner who is able to improve the profitability and competitiveness of the organization, using the potential of employees.

Svetlana highlighted the fact that HR-partner – is not only and not so much higher rung on the 

career development of HR specialist. This is the principled position with which a business psychologist or HR Manager comes into the organization. Specialist with the position of the HR partner needs to understand and take into account the specifics of the company's business, which it operates and to approach the implementation of the HR functions with the business objectives and strategies of the organization. It is also important not to confine knowledge in the field of business psychology and personnel management, and constantly expand knowledge in related fields that will enhance the work efficiency. Thus, the position of the HR partner is what makes the work of the specialist in management of human resources most effective.

The relaxed atmosphere of the master class allowed students to ask many questions, examining the challenges they face in their work currently, and which will be relevant for them in the future.

The analysis of specific practical situations was particularly interesting. Students created job descriptions independently, developed system of compensations and benefits for specific experts to examine how to motivate employees, including employees of management service personnel; evaluated the effectiveness of the structure of the management service staff, depending on the characteristics of the organization.

During the master class the students were able to dive deeper into the problem of peculiarities and subtleties of a psychologist in HR, received a unique experience that soon can use in their work as business psychologists.