Senior executives should give equal amounts of attention to – and expect equal levels of performance from – their companies' shared service units.




Shared service functions such as finance and human resources are more important today than they ever have been to the success of most companies. Consider that shared service units influence how the company manages its human capital (personnel), financial capital and technology, which are arguably three of the most important components of a successful company today. Despite their importance, however, shared service units in most companies receive much less senior executive attention than business units. The logic: business divisions generate profits, and that's where top management should focus its time.