Many observers have suggested that capitalism is fast destroying our planet, concentrating power in a few big companies. Excessive short-termism, leveraged debt, digitisation, and disruption are the new normal. We stand at a critical juncture where the two paths ahead could lead to very different futures. One route could take us back to the harshest days of the early Industrial Revolution and the Great Depression. The other could lead to a world of abundance, equality, inclusivity, and prosperity for all. Which future awaits us will largely be determined by business, and HR (Human Resources) in particular. Books on HR tend to focus on HR practices and potential interventions, but they rarely look at the profession, how it evolved, and how and why those people practices were created. The HR (R)Evolution: Change the Workplace, Change the World describes the "Seven Great Waves" of change and explains how each wave impacted business. It explains how some companies are stuck in the past and how HR can break the deadlock if it understands what the future holds. This book is meant for senior business leaders or anyone currently working in HR who are grappling with the paradoxes of business today. It’s for leaders who recognise that people issues are the central challenge of our time. Whether we embrace the waves yet to come will determine whether we survive or regress, whether we flourish or flounder. The future is in our hands. "This work not only captures the history of HR but offers a unique and powerful way HR may shape our planet for decades to come. A must read, learn, and do for all of us." David Ulrich, HR Academic, Professor of Business, University of Michigan "Thought provoking and challenging – a call to action for the HR profession." Leena Nair, CHRO Unilever "Who dares to read must act. This book will provoke you to start leading into a better future like nothing else you have ever read." Kate Brown, Group People Director, Specsavers "Hugely empowering research and thinking on the evolution of the HR function, and its role in society to help change the way we work for the better. We need to be Transformers rather than Robots in this evolving world!" Catherine Lynch, Former CHRO Virgin Media "Join the disruption and be part of reshaping the future of HR – this compelling book outlines the path and provides hard evidence of what’s to come and how to prepare for it. A must read." Beth Clutterbuck, CPO Cloudreach "A rare look at the complete evolution of HR, demonstrating how HR professionals have always reactively adapted to the world at the time. A thought-provoking insight into the future of HR and a comprehensive offering on how HR leaders can be instrumental in leading the transitions." Natasha Adams, CPO Tesco "Watkins and Dalton offer a compelling alternative future pathway. A tsunami of thought-provoking narrative where positive organisational and societal transformation are inextricably linked and where all people truly are at the heart of this seismic and (r)evolutionary change." Nathan Clements, HRD Boots UK "Thought provoking read on HR evolution to shape the future for us – HR leaders, for our people, for companies, for communities and for the PLANET. What we will do with this understanding is entirely up to us? Let’s shape the future now!" Karel Foltyn, Head of HR Amazon Europe "The book is a must read for business leaders. A compelling case is made for a leap forward and for HR to step up. The golden triangle – CEO, CFO and CHRO – will drive together the change of the workplace to change the world!" Martin Booisma, CHRO AkzoNobel "A thought provoking read that encourages HR professionals to reflect on whether our role should be to purely react to the social and political environment or to take a lead in the response that businesses take as they evolve through the ‘Waves’ of change." Vicky Wallis, CHRO, Santander UK "This book is an essential read for leaders, and those developing tomorrow’s leaders, faced with the challenges of both defining and delivering sustainable value in not just a digital economy but a world within which social equality and environmental concerns are paramount." Keith Jones, COO Halfords "A compelling and exciting view on the lessons of the past and how that shapes the future for individuals, business and the world around us. It’s the call to action that both HR professionals and business leaders need. Change is not coming – it’s here. It is now up to us to show that we cannot only learn from it, but develop and lead the next wave." Elaine Thomas, Global Head of People Solutions Refinitiv "A call to arms for all HR professionals to start thinking ahead and influencing their business to change – it’s no longer about evolution but revolution. An interesting perspective on the future of work, the authors help us to understand the past, in order to work out what we must do differently to survive the future." Jenn Barnett, Head of D&I , Wellbeing Grant Thornto