Human Capital Makes a Difference: Standardization Work Supports Stronger Workforces

ANSI is Secretariat to ISO TC 260, Group behind Standard and New Series of Technical Specifications to Support Human Resource Management

A study published by Harvard Law has concluded that especially in the time of a disruptive information age, "human capital and culture are essential to helping companies adapt, problem-solve, innovate and increase productivity."

Standards development work in the area of human capital is crucial, and involves analytical measures to assess the value of an organization's people, linking individual performance to organizational performance, productivity, and overall workforce effectiveness. As the U.S. member body to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), ANSI supports ongoing standards collaboration in this area as the Secretariat of ISO Technical Committee, (TC) 260, Human resource management, which developed ISO 30414, Human resource management – Guidelines for internal and external human capital reporting.

While ISO 30414 is the first International Standard that allows an organization to gain a better picture of the actual contribution of its human capital and report on it, ISO TC 260 recently developed the final five technical specifications as part of a series that supports the individual metrics required by ISO 30414.

The 13-part series covers an extensive range of comparable measures related to human resource management, applicable for internal and external reporting, as ISO reports. The series covers specifications for everything from organizational culture metrics to quality-of-hire metrics, occupational health and safety metrics, turnover and retention metrics, and more, available via ANSI.

“Organizations around the world are finding themselves called upon to quantify and defend their human capital management practices," said Jim Lewis, chair of ISO TC 260. "These ISO standards can help lend process and credibility to the efforts made to address the increasing demand for organizational accountability.”

Fast Facts on the Work of ISO TC 260, Human resource management

• ISO TC 260 was formed in 2011 to support organizations in the professional management of their workforce. The committee's human resource management standards offer broad, evidence-based guidance to individuals with people management responsibilities in organizations, whether formally or informally assigned, for the benefit of both internal and external stakeholders.

   

• ISO TC 260 standards focus on current and anticipated issues in people management. The standards developed are designed to assist in recruitment, retention, and workforce development, as well as improving workforce effectiveness and productivity, satisfaction, engagement, and focus.

   

• At the time of this publication date, there are 8 standards and/or projects under the direct responsibility of ISO TC 260 Secretariat.

   

• Global HR experts contribute input to this area of standards, which are designed to provide guidance on key HR functions in support of its workforce and its management, and sustainable organizational performance.

   

• Announced in May 2021, ISO TC 260 developed the newly published international standard ISO 30415, Human resource management — Diversity and inclusion, which provides a foundation for organizations wishing to create an inclusive workplace and optimizes all the benefits that it can bring.

For information on the work of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO TC 260, and to get involved, please visit the U.S. TAG to ISO TC 260 webpage or contact TAG Administrator, ANSI, Michaela Miller: [email protected], or TAG Chair, G2nd, Lorelei Carobolante, [email protected].

Access related news:

New ISO Standard Supports Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace (ANSI)

PEOPLE POWER: New HR management metrics help to create a better workforce (ISO)