HR Applied Intelligence

Smarter Execution for the Modern HR Function

HR Applied Intelligence is a continuous, expert-led, decision-support program for chief human resources officers (CHROs) and HR leaders. Our experts work alongside your team to challenge assumptions, navigate trade-offs, and coach and guide execution from strategy through implementation. We provide context-specific direction to shape your operating model, define priorities and understand constraints, not generic recommendations. Backed by decades of execution know-how and our proprietary AI-enabled platforms, we help HR organizations move faster, outperform peers and achieve breakthrough results.

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How HR Applied Intelligence works


HR Applied Intelligence is a membership program providing expert-led support to HR leaders – from strategy and ideation through execution – aligned to your priorities and pace at every stage of your journey.

Applied Intelligence begins by helping leaders evaluate and articulate what matters most. Using diagnostics, benchmarks and guided decision support, leaders gain a fact-based view of current HR programs, performance, workforce readiness and capability gaps, enabling structured ideation and clearly defined priorities and direction. 

Applied Intelligence experts work closely with leadership teams to evaluate strategic options, prioritize high-impact initiatives and align HR operating models, governance, technology and talent capabilities. Executive briefings and structured discussions focus on key trade-offs and critical decisions, grounded in Digital World Class® performance measurement and real-world experience.

Once priorities and decisions are defined, we remain actively engaged to support disciplined execution, change adoption, and capability development. Through decision support, on-demand learning, and AI-enabled intelligence, we help HR teams implement effectively and integrate Gen AI where it delivers measurable value.

As business conditions and priorities evolve, Applied Intelligence adapts to stay aligned with changing needs. Ongoing performance insight, refreshed diagnostics and expert-led check-ins help leaders monitor outcomes, adjust course, and sustain HR performance improvement in a dynamic business environment. 

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2026 HR Key Issues

HR leaders are turning AI into workforce performance in 2026. See how leading organizations are redesigning the HR operating model and enabling skills mobility to free HR from administration and drive business outcomes.

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Build a future-ready workforce and HR team with our Agentic Enterprise Operating Framework

The Hackett Group’s Agentic Enterprise Operating Framework helps HR leaders modernize the function while guiding enterprise workforce transformation. It outlines how strategy, governance, data, technology, and agentic workflows work together to redesign how work gets done and enable responsible artificial intelligence (AI) adoption. The framework equips HR to advise business partners on roles, skills, workforce planning and human-agent collaboration on the transformation to the agentic enterprise – strengthening performance, control and enterprise value.

Comprehensive HR domains we cover

The Hackett Group® HR Applied Intelligence program supports transformation across every major area of the HR function. It is structured to help HR leaders and their teams optimize strategy, streamline operations, and enable enterprisewide objectives. Our experts provide deep execution know-how across the following HR domains:

Workforce strategy and planning


  • Workforce planning


  • Organizational design and workforce modeling

  • Skills strategy and capability planning


  • HR strategy and transformation planning

Talent acquisition and onboarding


  • Recruitment strategy and operations

  • Candidate sourcing and selection

  • Offer management and onboarding

  • Employer branding and talent pipeline development

Employee experience and development


  • Learning and development


  • Performance management



  • Career and leadership development


  • Employee engagement and experience management

Rewards and workforce administration


  • Compensation strategy and administration


  • Benefits management


  • Payroll coordination and workforce administration

  • Time and attendance management

HR governance, risk and compliance


  • HR policy and governance

  • Workforce data privacy and compliance

  • Workforce risk management
  • Regulatory and labor compliance

What’s included in the HR Applied Intelligence program?

Your HR Applied Intelligence membership is designed to function as an extension of your leadership team. Members gain ongoing access to experienced professionals who help you identify high-impact opportunities, mobilize the organization and sustain change.

Executive briefings

Participate in focused, expert-led sessions addressing the decisions HR leaders are making right now – from operating model design and AI investment choices to performance targets and governance aligned to measurable outcomes.

Always-on conversational AI support

Get instant guidance between expert touchpoints. AskHackett™ delivers cited, context-specific recommendations grounded in real-world enterprise experience – helping leaders clarify options, validate assumptions and keep decisions moving.

On-demand expert inquiries

Ask questions on HR strategy, AI, operating model, governance, or workforce performance topics, and get fast, practitioner-backed insights that support faster, better-informed decisions when timing matters most.

Agentic readiness models for HR

Evaluate HR-specific readiness across data quality, human capital management (HCM) architecture, governance controls, analytics maturity and talent capability using structured assessment frameworks.

Hackett AI XPLR™ Ideation Workshop

Participate in a facilitated Hackett AI XPLR™ working session and receive client-specific Gen AI use cases – each defined with business context and rated for complexity, expected benefit, and return on investment (ROI) to support informed prioritization.

HR-focused learning and enablement

Engage in short, applied learning sessions covering topics that matter to your organization, such as Gen AI in HR, workforce planning, talent management modernization, employee experience transformation, HR analytics, digital HR enablement, HR technology adoption and more.

Leadership forums and peer exchanges

Participate in invitation-only executive forums, roundtables, webcasts, and confidential benchmarking discussions focused on HR performance management, Gen AI adoption, HR operating models, workforce strategy, talent transformation and HR execution in action.

HR performance measurement

Leverage curated HR key performance indicators (KPIs) and participate in topical performance studies to quantify gaps in HR cost, service delivery cycle time, productivity, workforce productivity, talent acquisition efficiency, workforce planning effectiveness, HR analytics capability, and AI adoption maturity – translating targets into clear, actionable priorities.

Proprietary HR thought leadership

Access exclusive, data-driven HR research, case studies, perspectives, podcasts, and analysis on leading practices in planning, reporting, controls, compliance, digital enablement, and emerging trends shaping world-class HR performance.

How HR Applied Intelligence drives transformation

HR Applied Intelligence embeds experts into your transformation agenda, guiding strategy and ideation, design, and execution from within. We stay engaged through implementation, governance and performance measurement to turn strategy into operational capability.

Define and align HR strategy

We work with CHROs and their leadership teams to clarify organizational priorities, ideate, align HR strategy to business objectives and establish measurable performance targets grounded in Digital World Class® standards.

Design the operating model for execution

We help redesign HR operating models to integrate automation, AI, governance and talent – ensuring structure, controls and accountability are aligned before implementation begins.

Build, deploy and sustain process improvements

We guide the transition from design to execution using a disciplined design-build-run approach that streamlines processes, embeds controls and operationalizes best practices across HR.

Improve workforce productivity and HR cost performance

We apply proven methods to strengthen workforce effectiveness, optimize HR operating costs, reduce cost-to-serve and improve productivity – with performance metrics tied to measurable value realization.

Operationalize data and analytics

We help HR teams build and embed advanced data and analytics capabilities – designing a robust insight-generation process that spans data sourcing, analysis, insight translation, storytelling and governance so information consistently drives better business outcomes.

Strengthen governance and risk management

We align governance models, internal controls, and risk frameworks to support scalable AI adoption and sustainable performance improvement.

Develop talent for modern HR

We support HR leaders in building digital proficiency, strengthening change leadership and equipping teams to sustain HR transformation over time.

The Applied Intelligence advantage

Make better and faster decisions

Applied Intelligence embeds a hands‑on team of seasoned experts directly into your decision flow, bringing practical judgment, enterprise execution experience, and AI‑driven insight to every high‑stakes choice. Traditional analysts observe from the outside, but we help you pressure‑test your assumptions, weigh trade-offs, and create realistic business cases.

Drive measurable impact, not just insight

Applied Intelligence helps you translate insight into execution. Our experts focus your teams on the actions that maximize ROI, guide delivery, and ensure execution closes the gap between knowing and doing.

Stay ahead as conditions change

As your business evolves, so does our support. As priorities, operating models, and AI maturity evolve, expert-led guidance adapts in real time – helping executives anticipate shifts, course-correct early, and stay aligned with how your enterprise operates today and tomorrow.

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FAQs

What is Applied Intelligence in HR, and how is it different from traditional advisory services?

Applied Intelligence in HR is a membership program that gives HR leaders access to expert-led strategy sessions and execution guidance to turn strategy into results. Unlike traditional advisory services or consulting projects, it focuses on helping leaders make informed decisions, prioritize initiatives, and progress from strategy through implementation using structured expert touchpoints rather than one-time recommendations.

Who is the HR Applied Intelligence program designed for?

The program is built for senior HR leaders, including CHROs, HR transformation officers, HR operations leaders and business services leaders. It is ideal for organizations aiming to drive HR modernization, improve process excellence and gain expert guidance through a structured engagement model.

What does an HR Applied Intelligence program include?

Our HR program includes access to The Hackett Group’s proprietary HR benchmarks, strategy
discussions, performance assessments, curated research and tools, and participation in peer learning events. Program participants also receive access to the Hackett Connect® platform.

How does HR Applied Intelligence help design and execute an effective HR operating model?

The program supports HR operating model design by guiding decisions on structure, governance, accountability, talent and enabling technology. Expert-led strategy sessions help HR leaders evaluate trade-offs, align the operating model to priorities, and execute changes that support modernization, automation, and AI adoption.

How does HR Applied Intelligence support HR transformation initiatives?

HR Applied Intelligence helps organizations execute HR transformation by connecting strategy, operating model decisions, process improvement, governance, data and AI adoption. Structured expert support helps leaders sequence initiatives, manage dependencies and sustain progress through implementation – so transformation delivers measurable outcomes, not just future-state designs.

How does the program help align HR strategy with business priorities?

The program helps CHROs align HR strategy to business priorities through expert-led strategy sessions informed by benchmarks and real-world execution insight. Leaders gain support in clarifying priorities, validating assumptions, setting targets and translating strategy into execution-ready plans with measurable outcomes.

How does HR Applied Intelligence support AI adoption in HR?

HR Applied Intelligence supports responsible AI adoption by helping HR leaders assess readiness, establish governance and prioritize high-value use cases. Experts use AI-enabled tools, including Hackett AI XPLR™, on the client’s behalf to identify and evaluate opportunities – focusing on practical application and scalable execution rather than experimentation.

Is HR benchmarking included in the program?

Yes. Participants receive access to a curated set of HR benchmark metrics to compare performance against peers and Digital World Class® organizations, helping leaders prioritize improvement and support decision-making.

Can multiple stakeholders from our organization participate?

Absolutely. Participation supports multiple roles:

  • A primary contact to coordinate engagement
  • Additional team members with approved corporate access who may participate in executive briefings, diagnostics and learning events

How can we get started or learn more about the program?

To understand how the HR Applied Intelligence program can support your goals, contact us for a personalized overview or consultation. Join other HR organizations achieving transformation and excellence through The Hackett Group’s unique engagement model.

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