Underprepared HR leaders left behind in tech training, report finds

“Executives are looking for enterprise impact. They want faster hiring, scalable service, stronger workforce insights, and consistent experiences across roles and regions—outcomes that go beyond individual experimentation.”

The expert said the shift will require a new type of professional development for HR teams, and managers need to be capable of collaborating with IT, legal, leadership, and other departments.

“Our work isn’t about becoming technologists, but about building the capability to steer technological decisions,” Kirkwood said.

“We must be able to guide where AI exists, how it operates and how it should (and should not) be used in decisions that affect people.”

Lack of organisational investment in HR

The misalignment in HR training reflects the lack of organisational investment in professional development for HR, according to the report.