Over the last five years, I have published two previous articles; HR Japan 2017: Strategies for Growth & Development in 2017 and Challenges and Direction of HR in Japan in 2015. Both were based on findings from surveying hundreds of Japan-based HR professionals. For 2020, I duplicated the survey questions from 2017 along with surveying many of the same HR professionals and increased the sample population by 50%. I did this to see how things have changed over the years. The data was surprising and it appears that the impact of digital transformation is resonating across the strategy and organizational structures of HR in Japan. Another potential finding is that HR teams in Japan have grown and matured over the last five years and are reaching a period of stabilization in a potentially unstable environment with many external threats. For now these are assumptions and will require more research, but some good observations and questions have surfaced from the data. これまで2017年には「HR Japan 2017: Strategies for Growth & Development (日本の人事2017: 成長と改善のための戦略)」、2015年には「Challenges and Direction of HR in Japan (日本の人事が抱える課題と方向性)」と題し、過去5年間で2本のレポートを投稿しました。両レポートとも、日本を拠点とする人事担当者数百名に対して行った調査結果に基づいて執筆したものです。2017年に調査対象とした人事担当者の多くを今回の2020年の調査でも対象とし、サンプル数は50%増として2017年の調査時と同じ質問を尋ねました。こうした手法をとったのは、この数年でどのように変化したのかを見るためです。この調査データより驚くべき結果が明らかになり、デジタル・トランスフォーメーションの影響が、日本の人事部門の戦略とその組織体制全般に及んでいるらしいことが分かりました。また日本の人事部門はおそらく過去5年間で成長・成熟を遂げ、現在は外的脅威が数多くあり、潜在的に不安定な環境で安定化を図る時期に入っているらしいことが分かりました。現在のところ、こうした事柄は推測に過ぎず、さらなる調査が必要ではありますが、今回の調査データよりいくつかの注目すべき点や疑問点が明らかになりました。 Before diving into the details, I would like to say; "THANK YOU" to the HR professionals in my network for taking the time to make this possible and for driving the initiative to analyse and improve the HR function in Japan. This is for all of you and I hope you can gain value from it. 詳細に入る前に、本調査にご協力頂き、日本における人事部の役割について分析・改善すべくお時間を割き、率先してご協力下さった、日頃よりお付き合い頂いている人事担当の皆様に厚く御礼申し上げます。誠にありがとうございました。当調査報告は皆さまに向けたものであり、お役立て頂けましたら幸いです。

1. Human Resources in Japan 2020
The impact of digital transformation & the future of work

2. We surveyed 600 Japan-based HR pros
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3. This is what we learned...
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4. Digital Transformation is
impacting HR
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6. HRBPs & HRIS are in focus as
an opportunity for
improvement
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7. HR teams are regaining balance
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9. HR teams are reaching a
healthy balance with 46%
meeting needs
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10. There's a gap between needs
& prioritization
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12. HR can see HRIS needs
improvement, but is not prioritizing
it's development
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13. HR is keeping the focus on mobility
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15. Mobility is key for
development, though training
did score 46% combined with
a growing need for external
L&D vendors
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16. Is HR going in the wrong direction?
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18. HRBPs, TA, and L&D remain
the focus for hiring and will
likely take HR's ownership of
digital transformation
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19. HR will carefully target talent
in 2020
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21. Agencies still lead search in
Japan as direct sourcing slows
due to improved tech and
referral programs
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22. HR is awakening
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24. Talent pool & budget are
leading challenges, but
employer brand awareness
has grown over 90% from
2017 to 2020
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25. What is in store for Japan's HR during 2020?
• Digital transformation will impact HR
• HR teams reaching healthy capacity
• HR tech will need to be improved
• Mobility will be the key for development
• HRBPs, TA, and L&D remain in demand
• Growth of direct sourcing will slow as tech &
internal referrals improve
• Employer branding gaining recognition
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26. This was possible because of you!
To all took the time for this survey
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