Best companies to work for 2013: HR will survive and thrive in the next decade, says Purva Misra, MakeMyTrip

In its tenth year, India's Best Companies to Work for Study - 2013, the largest study in the country on workplace culture, attracted participation from around 550 organisations spanning across 22 industries. A great place to work was defined as a place where you trust the people you work for, take pride in what you do and enjoy the company of people you work with.

The Economic Times spoke to Purva Misra, Sr. Vice President & Head HR, MakeMyTrip on diversity versus performance, data versus human interface and attrition.

Designation: Sr. Vice President & Head HR, MakeMyTrip

Present stint at company: Since January, 2012

Previous assignments: Director HR, Max Healthcare APAC Regional HR Director, Aon Hewitt Principal Consultant, Hewitt Associates

Which side are you on and why?

A. Diversity versus Performance?

Diversity-because it brings fresh blood, new ideas, different thinking and the ability to deal with a dynamic and complex environment of changing customer need.

This sustains the organisation in the long run. Performance is an immediate 'today, here and now' focus. Keeps you afloat today -runs the danger of being battleweary tomorrow!

B. Career HR people do a better job at human relations or HR is too important a job to be left to career HR guys?

People decisions are for business managers. People processes are for career HR people. They facilitate consistent thinking for managers, advice and are the guardrail for decisions.

C. Data/analytics-driven HR versus human interface-driven HR?

Process-driven HR delivered with a human face. An absolute must but also a tricky balance. With too much process, human resources is cold and bureaucratic! With too much human interface, HR runs the danger of being called biased, political, playing favorites!

D. HR will survive the next decade or will HR be replaced?

Survive and thrive! The most complex business issues which face top management are talent-related and without HR, these cannot be tackled. Unfortunately, these issues cannot be dealt with excel sheets, formulas or templates. They require decision-making, which is the most premium skillset. Human resources is best positioned to support and advise this decision-making.

E. HR is HR department's job versus HR is a shared responsibility

Shared responsibility! HR runs people processes which help managers take people decisions - a shared responsibility!

F. According to you, what is HR's biggest dilemma?

Being objective and a trusted advisor of both business and employees. Bringing issues proactively to management decision-making rather than "what do we do now?"

The attrition rate in your own department is:

Lower by 6%