The Investors in People Standard is a business improvement tool designed to advance an organisation's performance through its people.
Developed in 1990 by a partnership of leading businesses and national organisations, the Standard helps organisations to improve performance and realise objectives through the management and development of their people.
A Proven Framework for Business Improvement
Investors in People provides a flexible framework, which any organisation can adapt for its own requirements. It mirrors the business planning cycle (Plan, Do, Review), making it clear for organisations to follow and implement in their own planning cycle.
The Investors in People Standard is based on three key principles:
Plan – Developing strategies to improve the performance of the organisation
Do – Taking action to improve the performance of the organisation
Review – Evaluating the impact on the performance of the organisation.
Developing Strategies to Improve the Performance of the Organisation
An Investor in People develops effective strategies to improve the performance of the organisation through its people. The standard has 10 indicators:
1. Business Strategy - A strategy for improving the performance of the organisation is clearly defined and understood
2. Learning & Development Strategy - Learning and development is planned to help achieve the organisation's objectives
3. People Management Strategy - Strategies for managing people are designed to promote quality of opportunity in the development of the organisations people
4. Leadership & Management Strategy - The capabilities managers need to lead, manage and develop people effectively are cleary defined and understood
Taking Action to Improve the Performance of the Organisation
5. Management Effectiveness - Managers are effective in leading, managing and developing people
6. Recognintion and Reward - People's contributions to the organisation are recognised and valued
7. Involvement and Empowerment - People are encouraged to take ownership and responsibility by being involved in decision-making
8. Learning and Development - People learn and develop effectively
Evaluationg the Impact of the Performance of the Organisation
9. Performance Measurement - Investment in people improves the performance of the organisation
10. Continuous Improvement - Improvements are continually made to the way people are managed and developed
For more information about the standard, visit the Investors in People website. (See links on the right of this page.)