Human Capital Index
(Watson Wyatt)

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The Human Capital Index (HCI) is a methodology of Watson Wyatt used to calculate the correlation of human capital and shareholder value.

Watson Wyatt developed a set of measures quantifying exactly which Human Resources practices and policies have the greatest correlation to shareholder value.

Using those to assign a single Human Capital Index (HCI) "score" to each surveyed company allows them to deliver conclusive results. Where there are superior Human Resources practices, there is higher shareholder value.

In other words: the Human Capital Index shows that if an organization is doing better in managing its human capital, it will also be better in its returns for shareholders.

Human Capital Index Formula

Responses are matched to objective financial measures, including market value, three-year and five-year total returns to shareholders (TRS), and Tobin's Q, an economist's ratio that measures an organization's ability to create value beyond its physical assets. Public data from Standard and Poor's databases are used to access the financial information needed.

To investigate the relationship between Human Capital practices and value creation, a series of multiple regression analyses were conducted, which apparently identify a clear relationship between the effectiveness of a company's human capital practices and shareholder value creation. Thirty key Human Resources practices were associated with a 30 percent increase in market value. Total HCI scores were created for individual organizations so that results could be expressed on a scale of 0 to 100. An HCI score of 0 represents the poorest human capital management, while a score of 100 is ideal.

Forum Forum discussions about the Human Capital Index. Below you can ask a question about this topic, share your experiences, report a new development, or explain something. Start a new topic about Human Capital Index Share your knowledge here (or ask a question)   Human Capital Does not Depreciate HC is the only capital of an organization that has got no depreciation. Rather human capital becomes more valuable in the course of time and adds more value to the organization.... 12   5 comments Shareholders and Human Capital It's true that the human capital is amongst the most valuable assets that an organization acquires, I deem personnel the hidden power that contributes to the strength and success of any business. Yet... 6   2 comments Importance of Human Resources Humans are real resources for any organization. This is an interesting point that both employee and employer claim to understand the importance of HR but do not carry out their responsibility respecti... 4   1 comments H2 Use Human Capital More Effectively? Please raise any ideas / strategies through which human capital can be used more effectively? Thank you.... 3   🔥 NEW The Value of Human Capital Is 'human capital' a dream or utopia? It sounds wonderfully true - albeit only in theories. The practices are different, sometimes a bit, sometimes totally...... 2   1 comments Human Resources Capacity Planning Tool I'm searching for a tool for human resource planning for a period of 6 to 12 months. If possible as a excel-tool. Does anybody have good experiences or tips? It doesn't have to be for free.... 0   3 comments

Expert Tips Advanced insights about the Human Capital Index. Here you will find professional advices by experts. Approaches by Accenture and Deloitte Measuring Human Capital - Since 1999, WATSON WYATT’s Human Capital Index project has collected data on HR activities at nearly 150 large North A... The Impact Areas of HR Practices on Market Value Shareholder Value, Market Value In addition to providing the evidence that good human capital management creates shareholder value, Watson Wyatt’s Human...

Information Sources Various sources of information regarding the Human Capital Index. Here you will find powerpoints, videos, news, etc. to use in your own lectures and workshops. Risk and Return of Human Capital Human Capital In this paper Charlotte Christiansen a.o. analyze investments in human capital assets in a way which is standard for fin... The Role of Human Capital in Economic Growth Human Capital, Organizational Growth This study by Vladimir Kühl Teles presents stylized facts for economic growth for the second half of the 20th century, a...

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