Smart HR: Leveraging AI for Better People Management
Welcome to our latest blog post in the AI Empowerment series! In a recent webinar, we explored the world of AI in Human Resources. The webinar was packed with insights, practical examples, and a whole lot of fun! Here’s a recap of the key points discussed and some practical tips on how you can start using AI in your everyday HR tasks.
The current state of AI in HR
We began the conversation discussing where HR as a profession is with AI adoption today. Whilst we are seeing general optimism and acknowledgement that organizations need to keep up with AI, there are also concerns around the use of responsible AI, manager enablement and data privacy. Here are some key findings from a recent study by Gartner (2024):
Optimism and Adoption: 61% of HR professionals are optimistic about AI’s potential to enhance HR practices, particularly in HR analytics, employment law, and learning and development. However, only 38% of HR leaders are currently piloting or implementing AI solutions today.
Common use cases today: Recruitment, chatbots and virtual assistants, and reducing administrative load are the top areas where AI is making an impact.
Challenges and Concerns
Data privacy and security: Ensuring robust data handling practices and protecting sensitive information are paramount.
Professional caution: HR practitioners need to navigate the complexities of using new technology while keeping up with evolving laws and maintaining a human touch.
Using AI in everyday HR Tasks using Microsoft 365 Copilot
Using the Microsoft Copilot HR Scenario Library as inspiration, we explored a few use cases to demonstrate where and how Copilot could be leveraged in various HR tasks.
Conducting Market Research for Recruitment
Example Copilot prompt: “Generate a table of key skills and experience required for software engineers at large enterprise technology companies based on market trends and leading technology companies.”
Creating Job Descriptions
Example Copilot prompt: “Draft a job description for a software engineer role, including key responsibilities, required skills, and company culture.”
Updating Policy Documents
Example Copilot prompt: “Scan the latest version of our remote work policy and create an FAQ document for employees.”
Writing effective prompts for your daily HR tasks
During the webinar, we spoke about the importance of experimenting with prompt writing and reiteration to help create prompts that would produce the desired outcome. We wrote some prompts together and reviewed the subsequent Copilot generated output! Here are a few examples that stood out:
1. Writing pre-survey communication to employees
– Example Copilot prompt: “Help me draft an email to our employees about the upcoming global employee survey. The email should include information about when the survey is open and the closing deadline, reasons employees should participate and how they can provide their feedback.”
2. Encouraging employee participation in the survey
– Example Copilot prompt: “We are in the middle of our global employee engagement survey period and have only received 20 responses across the company. Help me write a reminder email to employees encouraging them to participate and the importance of sharing their feedback. Use a tone that is encouraging yet friendly as employees are very busy at this time of year.”
3. Helping leaders re-draft internal communications about a Return to Office policy using appropriate style and tone
– Example Copilot prompt: “Please provide a new version of the below email draft. I’d like the tone to be professional, but ensure the language used is empathetic and compassionate.”
Looking to the future
The potential for AI to revolutionize human resources is boundless. Imagine a world where HR professionals can focus more on strategic initiatives and employee engagement, while AI handles the repetitive and time-consuming tasks. The integration of AI into HR processes not only enhances efficiency but also opens up new avenues for innovation and growth in the profession. Here are some further resources to help you navigate your HR AI journey:
Viva Community Call (Oct 2024): How Microsoft HR is using Viva and M365 Copilot to Empower Employees
Microsoft Copilot Academy now available to all Microsoft 365 Copilot users
Empowering responsible AI practices
If you missed our live webinar, you also can watch the recording and access the presentation below.
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