Human resource business partner as a source of conflicts in an enterprise – research results*

Abstract

The article elaborates on a thesis that development of new functions of the Human Resource Business Partner (HR BP) generates conflicts in three areas of operation of an enterprise: the structure, organizational culture, and goal attainment strategy. A commentary on the concept of the HR BP is provided and the functions propounded within its framework are discussed. Based on qualitative research on three large enterprises in Poland, the following strategies for the introduction of changes in the HR BP are the subject of analysis, that is: maintaining the status quo in power relations, expansion of influence over time, and the policy of small steps. It was concluded that an important factor affecting selection of a strategy is the organizational culture described from the perspective of the concept of Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner.