Why is ISO/TC 260 HR management important?

Human resource management (HRM) unlocks the potential value of people in organizations. When HRM processes and practices are aligned with organizational goals and objectives, workers contribute to value creation, helping organizations compete effectively. Applying HRM standards supports organizations in optimizing their people management strategies, which can improve organizational outcomes, including return on human capital investment and greater value for stakeholders.

For example, stakeholders such as capital markets and investors use standards developed by ISO TC260 to define and benchmark processes and practices related to human capital as an intangible asset. One key standard from ISO TC260 is ISO 30414, which provides requirements and recommendations for organizations to measure, report, and disclose human capital outcomes. By applying this standard, organizations can gain valuable insights to improve their understanding of risks and opportunities for sustainable growth and positive impact, regardless of size or sector.

ISO/TC 260 is also responsible for knowledge management (KM) standards. The knowledge that people bring, build and pass on is a large part of the value HRM unlocks, and unless the organization manages it, knowledge leaves when people do. 

Knowledge sits with people: in their experience, their judgement and the way they work together. In a knowledge economy, knowledge creates value. Managing people, the working environment, and organizational culture are important aspects of managing knowledge. Our HR management standards address how organizations attract, develop and deploy their people; our knowledge management standards address how people create, share and apply knowledge.

What we do.

TC260 standards focus on current and anticipated issues involving people management.

HRM and KM standards are developed by consensus among practitioners, experts, and researchers from different cultural contexts around the world. These specialists contribute their knowledge and expertise to provide HR practitioners, organizations, and stakeholders with tools and guidance to improve worker experience and organizational outcomes.

ISO/TC 260 main objectives and priorities include developing international business by providing guidance and improving internal processes. The core benefits of applying ISO/TC260 standards include optimization of organizational performance. Improved value creation, sustainable development, workforce productivity, satisfaction and engagement benefit organizations who apply these standards and technical specifications.

Whether or not organizations have a dedicated HR function, adopters of any size or maturity can leverage their knowledge, skills and capabilities to improve organizational performance by applying these HRM and KM standards.

Who we are.

This map is designed to visually demonstrate the geographic distribution of our P-Members and O-Members. The boundaries shown do not imply an official endorsement or acceptance by ISO.

International Organization of Standardization (ISO)Technical Committee 260 HR Management (TC 260) is the official group dedicated to developing evidence-based HR standards that improve HR management processes and practices, worker experience and organizational outcomes. TC 260 is comprised of HR and KM experts from around the world who share their knowledge and expertise to develop strategic HR standards that assist organizations in the management of people. These continual improvement standards are voluntary, evidence-based and use a consensus approach.

Countries that are actively participating in the work of this committee, and other countries that are participating as observing members. TC 260 was founded in 2011, and celebrated its first decade in 2021!

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has delegated the TC 260 Secretariat to the HR Certification Institute (HRCI), who oversees and supports the management of the standard development process. To learn more about current standards under development, and some of the leaders involved, click here.