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Lesson:

What is Your Organization’s Primary Focus?

Course: HR as a Business Partner
Module: Setting the Foundation
Lesson Type: Video
Lesson Duration: 4:50

Lesson Transcript

Remember I mentioned that it is usually NOT the mission of successful organizations to exist simply to make money. Your organization has a primary focus they leverage to accomplish their mission. Successful organizations do make money, of course. Successful non-profits help a lot of people and causes. But making money and helping a lot of people and causes is a result of being aware of effectively implementing and fulfilling the mission.

In order to successfully implement a strategic plan, understanding your organization’s primary focus can help form the strategic framework. I would like to discuss 9 main focus areas organizations leverage to fulfill their mission. It is imperative that you, as an HR professional, know what your organization’s main focus is so you can align HR policies, procedures, and talent needs to that focus.

I first learned these focus areas from a literary mentor of mine, Alan Weiss. As I describe these organizational focus areas, think about what the primary focus of your organization is.

The first primary focus area is “products and services.” These organizations focus solely on a specific product or service. An example would be In-and-Out Burger. In-and-Out Burger is a western fast food chain that has built their business around having a very simple menu. You will never see “experimental” kitchens at In-and-Out Burger. They sell and focus on selling hamburgers and homemade fresh cut french fries. They are product and service driven.

Second, another focus area would be, “markets served”. This focus area has a very specific market segment they are looking to serve. Think of community banks or credit unions. These organizations serve a very specific group of clients. They may sell many products and services or very few, but they only sell to specific market segments. Another example from the non-profit space would be the Girl Scouts. They are experts in developing and empowering young female leaders.

Our third area is Technology. I would argue that Tesla is a technology focused organization. If their focus was simply on “selling electric cars” they would be product/service focused. This is not what they do though. Tesla is focused and leveraging technology to improve existing products…cars. Many would say the Dyson “vacuum” company has a “product/service” focus. They too are a technology company that focuses on the best, most efficient way to move air.

The fourth area of focus for organizations is “Natural Resources”. Mining companies and utilities would be a good example of this. To use another example from earlier in the course would be Starbucks. Their entire organization rises and falls on the wonderful natural resource, coffee.

The fifth area is “Production Capability”. Many manufacturing organizations would be considered a production capability focused company. If the line is shut down due to lack of orders or maintenance issues, money is being lost.

The sixth and seventh areas are Method of Sale and Method of Distribution. For Method of Sale think of your online retailers of today and your catalogue companies of yesterday. For “Method of Distribution” think McDonald’s or Subway. Many fast food companies and brick and mortar retailers sell many products and services primarily through their distribution vehicle of stores.

Our eighth area of focus is Size and Growth. Many startups are a growth focused organization. Tech companies need to grow quickly to encourage more investors and/or gain market share quickly.

Lastly, “return or profit” is a focus. These would be your true conglomerate organizations that simply purchase companies that have no rhyme or reason or connection to each other than they simply make money. These are very rare but there are companies that exist with this as a main focus.

To be an effective business partner you must, first, know what your organization’s focus is. If you aren’t quite sure what the primary focus of your organization is, be curious and ask. Talk with your fellow leaders and management team. Having a conversation with these key stakeholders in your organization will not only give you more insight to the business of your organization, but it will also promote your HR Team as the key business partner and partners that you are!

Instructor:

Scott Pitts

Scott has spent nearly two decades in the human resources, learning and organization development professions. Scott has led multiple organizations and has taught hundreds of students on effectively creating and...

Scott's Full Bio

Module 1 0/7

Setting the Foundation

Welcome & Course Objectives

Why Focus on Strategy?