Building Capability & Capacity at the Organisational Level
Hosted by
ChapmanCG and Hilton China co-hosted an exclusive HR Roundtable in Shanghai, bringing together 30 CHROs from multinational and local enterprises to explore Building Capability & Capacity at the Organisational Level.
Against the backdrop of China’s rapidly evolving talent landscape, the discussions revealed critical insights into agility, innovation, and the expanding role of HR leadership.
China’s Talent Market: Where Agility Meets Scale
As one of the world’s most dynamic and complex markets, China requires HR strategies that strike a balance between speed and local nuance. A recurring theme was the need to move beyond legacy mindsets—today’s "new normal" requires HR to identify fresh opportunities that drive business growth and organisational effectiveness while preserving employee well-being and culture.
Flexible Workforce Solutions: Unlocking Potential in a 1.4B-Person Market
A highlight was the exchange on innovative contingent workforce models in China. With a talent pool of unprecedented scale, companies shared how tailored flexible staffing solutions not only address hiring challenges but also maintain operational excellence. Examples included:
- Leveraging platform-based hiring to access niche skills
- Balancing cost efficiency with workforce stability
- Creating win-win partnerships with external talent providers
Employee Engagement as an Invisible Asset
CHROs agreed that activating employee motivation is a multiplier for organisational success. Forward-thinking approaches included:
- Forming virtual volunteer teams to co-design well-being programs (replacing top-down initiatives)
- Using these projects as leadership incubators, developing capabilities organically
- Aligning engagement strategies with local workforce expectations
The CEO-isation of China’s CHROs
A provocative insight emerged: HR leaders in China are increasingly operating as strategic CEOs of the people function. Amid regulatory shifts and unique customer behaviours, CHROs are:
- Redesigning organisational structures to enable faster decision-making
- Collaborating with external partners to unlock non-traditional talent pipelines
- Balancing global frameworks with hyper-local execution
HR as the Catalyst for Change
The Roundtable underscored that in China’s talent market, standing still is not an option. The most successful organisations will be those that empower HR to:
- Anticipate shifts with data-driven agility
- Experiment with bold workforce solutions
- Integrate employee voice into strategy
Special thanks to Hilton China for hosting this vibrant exchange. The energy in the room confirmed one truth: for HR leaders here, the future is not just about adapting—it is about rewriting the playbook
