Centralize or Decentralize Recruiting? it's Complicated
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Anyone who has watched recruiting functions closely over the last 20 years will have observed companies’ deployment models shift from centralized recruiting, to decentralized recruiting, to human resources generalist-based recruiting, to a "shared services" model and back to decentralized models. The constant shifting of strategies clearly indicates that the problem of finding the right talent at the right time cannot be solved through structural reorganization.
While all of these approaches have their pros and cons, the most optimal methodology for recruitment delivery is very much dependent upon each organization’s unique business, workstyle and staffing needs. But, in all cases, core recruiting competence does not improve simply by changing the deployment model alone.
We have seen poorly-implemented models on all sides of the centralized-decentralized continuum. Decentralized functions can deliver some "close-to-the-client" advantages, but often sacrifice many of the key efficiencies of centralized recruiting. Centralized functions can deliver greater efficiencies and cost savings but often fall short on effectiveness at the critical points of client engagement and service delivery.
And hybrid models of the two often look contorted, delivering many of the disadvantages of both with few to none of the advantages.
In today’s talent market, with demographic shifts, changes in work style preferences, talent market skills shortages, constantly shifting recruiting priorities within companies and competition for rare and critical talent escalating between companies, excellent recruiting is no longer a mere operational requirement. It is a strategic necessity.
To help clients gain the competitive advantage in recruiting, particularly in talent-scarce markets, we help them envision, design and implement "Center of Excellence" (COE) based recruiting functions. The recruiting COE approach offers a matrixed development model that centralizes recruitment strategy, operational "backroom" framework and methodology, while pushing the delivery system and engagement methodology out into the businesses. In short, the COE can offer the best, not the worst, of the centralized and decentralized models. And, the model provides complete flexibility and scalability that is often absent in more traditional deployments.
How to Build a Recruiting Center of Excellence?
The COE model is not new to clients in technology and scientific industries. When designed and implemented correctly, a COE seeks to organize around pockets of knowledge and expertise, not around the traditional hierarchical structure.
A COE delivers some key advantages that accommodate the main advantages of central and decentralized models. It allows central delivery of core, shared recruitment services, but also enables local delivery of business-specific recruitment services. It allows space in the recruiting function for projects that drive standardization around best practices across the enterprise, yet allows for business-specific adaptation and customization based on the differing needs of each business unit. A COE offers great process efficiency and clear structure, but is architected with fungible resources and delivery models that can shift on a dime to react to sudden changes of demand or business strategies.
A COE also offers a clear structure for efficient deployment and effective delivery. For instance, all operational elements that fit the following criteria should be centralized: shared IT systems such as ATS, RMS and automated assessment tools; shared delivery methodologies and best practices; benchmarks, measures and analytics; recruitment support/administrative functions; candidate sourcing and generation; university and other programmatic recruiting initiatives; and enterprise-wide selection standards and practices.
Delivery of recruitment consulting services, on the other hand, such as manager engagement, coaching, needs analysis, etc. are best accomplished within the business units; and these should be deployed within the business, not from the central location. This assures the proper level of line manager coaching, higher levels of process advocacy, better candidate care, higher close rates and close links with the business units that are critical to effective recruitment project and workforce planning.
Simply stated, a recruiting COE provides the operational framework to drive adaptation of enterprise-wide best practices. It is an ideal way to tie the function directly into business needs, goals and results. The COE model maintains the flexibility for local, regional and national delivery, while setting standards and implementing best practices across the entire enterprise.
Many organizations start slowly with a COE. Their initial focus may be at the transaction level and, once perfected, they move their efforts to higher impact activities. Others start with improving their service delivery and work backwards to the operational core.
What are the Roles and Responsibilities of a Recruiting COE?
Key COE Recruitment Functions
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Key Business Unit Recruiting Functions
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The Future is Now
Forward-thinking organizations have already begun to make the shift toward a more matrixed delivery model that incorporates the "best" of both centralized and decentralized models. As c-level leaders are asking for more talent management information and data, the inefficiencies of prior models will no longer be tolerated.
We are on the verge of a quick revolution that will drive a COE-like approach for organizations that truly understand the impact of talent on the business and want to leverage the asset as a competitive advantage. For those who execute well, the COE approach will yield unprecedented talent acquisition and management success.
