Project Summary: Discussion: History and Trends of HR Analytics HR has evolved from mainly hiring and paying employees to being embedded within the organization's strategic planning and implementation processes. Today, HR's focus is more centered on aligning its functions with the organization to create and sustain a competitive advantage. This shift in HR has also created a need for HR professionals to understand analytics and utilize metrics for strategic planning and decision making. HR professionals also must be skilled in demonstrating the value of HR analytics in improving organizational effectiveness.