Original Research

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

Melinde Coetzee, Dieter Veldsman, Ingrid L. Potgieter, Nadia Ferreira
SA Journal of Human Resource Management | Vol 23 | a2862 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhrm.v23i0.2862 | © 2025 Melinde Coetzee, Dieter Veldsman, Ingrid L. Potgieter, Nadia Ferreira | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 14 October 2024 | Published: 04 April 2025

About the author(s)

Melinde Coetzee, Department of Industrial and Organisational Psychology, School of Management Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
Dieter Veldsman, Academy to Innovate HR, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; and, Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
Ingrid L. Potgieter, Department Human Resource Management, School of Management Sciences, College of Economic and Management Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa
Nadia Ferreira, Department Human Resource Management, School of Management Sciences, College of Economic and Management Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

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.


Keywords

AIHR T-shaped HR competency assessment; business acumen; digital agility; future-proof human resource competencies; people advocacy; stewardship theory; workplace stewardship.

JEL Codes

L20: General

Sustainable Development Goal

Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

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