Future-proof human resource competencies as synergetic boosters of workplace stewardship capability

Orientation: Future-proof human resource (HR) competency models are receiving attention to promote more value-adding, digital-driven employee- and business-centred services and practices. Research purpose: The study explored HR business acumen as promoter of HR workplace stewardship through the competency mechanism of people advocacy and with the moderating effect of digital agility. Motivation for the study: Presently, there is a dearth of research on future-proof HR competencies as vital inter-relating capability mechanisms for successfully performing HR roles in the evolving digital-era work world. Research approach/design and method: The quantitative study involved an availability-based data set of N = 850 HR professionals who completed the short version of the T-shaped HR competency questionnaire developed by the Academy to Innovate HR. Main findings: Confirmatory factor analysis and moderated-mediation analysis revealed new insights into the synergetic complementarity of HR business acumen, people advocacy and digital agility in boosting HR workplace stewardship. Practical/managerial implications: Human resource professionals’ business acumen and people advocacy capability can strengthen their workplace stewardship capability when they carefully gauge their digital agility for goals of employee and organisational thriving. Contribution/value-add: The new insights contribute to future-proof HR competency theory and inform HR professionals’ development as credible members and stewards of the organisation.