submitted by Donna Rogers Skowronski
Needless to say, HR professionals all across the world are a
bit confused this week by SHRM’s announcement of a competency based
certification. Personally, I believe,
this confusion could have been prevented with a little more strategic planning
and communication from those who made the decision to release this
information. The fact that the HRCI
Executive Director did not receive advance notification leaves me a bit
disappointed for a variety of reason.
Mainly, because just last year I was among four other representatives
from across the country who shared with the SHRM board that membership in
general feels “their house is not in order”.
There is a lot that goes into that statement based on some research that
we conducted from a volunteer sample of the members. However, the bottom line is that the comment
related to turnover, previous problems with transparency perception, and
communication between the other two organizations so closely related to SHRM
(the foundation and HRCI). Just last
month I attended a student SHRM conference where I heard from a fellow
volunteer that they were on a newly created committee with members of all three
organizations with the goal to improve communications. Basically the idea which supported our
recommendation was to consistently let the right hand known what the left hand
is doing. Unfortunately, this week’s
announcement took the whole effort backwards in my humble opinion.
Yesterday, I was contacted by the president of my local
chapter to help explain what is going on to the membership at next week’s
general membership meeting. They had a
board meeting just after the announcement hit in boxes but before other
communications came out from both SHRM and HRCI. So needless to say, the board was at a loss
to answer a multitude of questions that arose at the board meeting and from
members. Just after that I received an
email from a local member and another today.
I am certainly no expert and I really don’t want to be misquoted or take
a chance at being misunderstood by interpreting something that is still a
little unclear in my own mind even after reading all I can about the
subject. So instead of clarifying for
you, I have done a search for all communications I can locate up to this point
about the topic so you can find them all in one place. I am sure in the coming days, weeks, and
months, more details will unfold. Until
that time, try to stay afloat in the muddy water as the rest of the 14k
certified individuals, myself included, will do the same (not to mention those unsure
about whether to move forward with certification which I am guessing is also in
the thousands).
Here is what I have located so far:
From SHRM
The initial announcement: http://www.shrm.org/Publications/HRNews/Pages/New-SHRM-Certification.aspx#sthash%2EzRgqnFv9%2EVVotHkbj%2Edpuf
From HRCI
Press Release From HRCI: http://www.hrci.org/docs/default-source/press-releases/hrci-clarifies-confusion-around-certifications.pdf?sfvrsn=4
Various
Posts Not from SHRM or HRCI
HRCI: Surprised by SHRM Plan to Offer HR Certifications: http://www.workforce.com/articles/20474-hrci-surprised-by-shrm-plan-to-offer-hr-certifications
Chicago SHRM 5/14/14 Certification Update-Recertification
Program Changes
New #SHRM Certification Raises More Questions Than
It Answers (Update X 2)
J.J. Keller on 5/14/14 SHRM approves plan for new human resource
certification based on competencies
