Human capital management guru joins Learning Light

Edited by the Manufacturingtalk editorial team Feb 1, 2007

Human capital management specialist has become a research associate with Learning Light,

Jon Ingham, the human capital management specialist has become a research associate with Learning Light, a non-profit centre of excellence which highlights and promotes best practice in the use of learning technologies in the workplace.

Jon Ingham, head of the human capital and change management consultancy Strategic Dynamics Consultancy Services and author of 'Strategic Human Capital Management', has joined US-based e-learning guru Jay Cross, technology in education specialist Dr Celia Richardson and learning and performance expert Debbie Carlton in becoming a research associate of Learning Light.

Ingham, who has a background in systems development consultancy with what is now Accenture, was introduced to the concepts behind human capital management (HCM) some five years ago while consulting with clients on various HR projects.

According to Ingham: "These projects were about how organisations managed and developed people in a way that allowed an organisation to be different from its competitors and which built on-going competitive advantage".

HCM is about an advanced, innovative, strategic approach to HR, aligned to the organisation's vision, mission and goals.

"It is about developing an intangible value through people," he added.

"The HR community tends to see HCM as tied to the metrics they use for internal and external reporting.

This is disappointing," he continued.

"HCM is really about improving the level of value that people deliver to a business, not simply about measuring that value".

"If people are really the most critical resource in driving business success, then HR needs to become the lead business function".

"But just adopting the techniques of the current lead function - finance - and trying to count everything about people takes HR in the wrong direction," he said.

"I'm looking forward to working with the Learning Light team to apply technology to take HCM where it needs to go if 'UK plc' is to establish and maintain global competitive advantage," he concluded.