Chapter 5: The Role of the HR Professional in the Virtual Organization

Accelerated rates of change are driving new realities for organizations and human resources. New realities with customers, technology, industry, and investors shape new rules for winning. Because of these changes, we are on the brink of new organizational forms—horizontal, alliances, networks, boundaryless, lateral structure, lateral, and shared services—all of which entail a virtual organization. This chapter describes the context of change, explores the implications for emerging virtual organizations, and proposes five roles—coach, architect, designer, facilitator, and leader—for HR professionals to contribute as players, not just partners. We discuss why each role matters and how to perform the role. By mastering those roles, the Human Resource function will add value to traditional and emerging virtual organizations.