Human Resources Policy Institute

HRPI was founded to study the latest developments in human resource management issues and serve as an information resource. Since 1981, our faculty, graduate students, and fellows have partnered with top-level human resources executives from our member companies, discussed the latest trends, benchmarking best practices, and sponsored faculty and doctoral-level research.

Current and Recent Research Topics

• Global Sourcing of Talent / Offshoring
• Health Care Cost Containment and Consumer-Driven Health Plans
• HR Outsourcing
• HR Leaders Joining Corporate Boards of Directors             

HRPI Cases

HRPI cases examine innovative practices and strategic issues in human resources management. Our cases are used in MBA classes and executive development programs across the country. You can order a copy of our cases by calling us at (617) 353-3304, or emailing our office.

Meetings

Institute members meet for two days each spring and fall to discuss current themes, debate leading-edge human resource topics and network with peer HR executives. Meetings explore a current topic of interest and feature leading experts from academia, consulting, and the corporate sectors.

Recent meeting topics and featured speakers include:

• Site Visit to The Home Depot
  Hosted by Dennis Donovan, Executive Vice President, Human Resources
  
• New Insights on Leadership Development
  Marc Effron, Hewitt Associates; company presentations by JCPenney, Colgate-Palmolive, Fidelity Investments, and Biogen Idec
  
• Changing Expectations of the Board of Directors: Implications for the CEO and for HR
  Professor Jay Lorsch, Harvard Business School; Roger Kenny, Boardroom Consultants
  
• Global Sourcing of Talent
  Consultant, company and academic presentations on the strategic drivers and HR challenges of global sourcing of talent
  
• Site Visit to IBM
  Hosted by Randy MacDonald, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, with presentations by 11 members of IBM’s senior HR team
  
• Re-engaging the Workforce
  James Clifton, CEO, The Gallup Organization and the Honorable Cari Dominguez, Chair, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
  
• Corporate Malfeasance: Implications for HR
  Professors James Post and Susan Koniak, Boston University; Tom Phillips, Raytheon; and panelists from BP, Agilent Technologies, Boston Scientific, and Gillette
  
• HR Outsourcing: Possibilities and Pitfalls
  Robin Lissak, Ph.D., PricewaterhouseCoopers; Bob Gunn, Exult; and company representatives from Fidelity Investments and IBM

Members

Our member companies are among the world's leading firms and HR innovators. Participants are senior level HR executives and major contributors to their organization. For information about becoming a member, please contact Fred Foulkes.

Contact information

Human Resources Policy Institute
Boston University School of Management
595 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 617-353-3304

Faculty Director: Fred K. Foulkes, Professor, Organizational Behavior
Assistant Director: Lindsay Hoag