The BoK is a document listing the topics that are generally understood to comprise the field of People Analytics. It is updated as the field evolves. It answers the question: “What is People Analytics all about?” The BoK recognizes that the field has porous boundaries and is always evolving.

The Education Committee of the Society for People Analytics (SPA) developed the BoK to establish a common foundation that generates consistency in how the field People Analytics is understood and described.

The BoK is intended for a broad and varied audience–from no experience to mastery–depending on what the use case is. Someone with no experience may use it to understand what People Analytics is about, while a seasoned practitioner may reference the BoK as a foundation for designing courses, framework or practice guides.  The inaugural edition of the BoK is designed to be accessible to people with little to no experience with People Analytics, subsequent editions will increasingly cater to the needs of all audiences and stakeholders.

There are several opportunities for leveraging the BoK, including:

• Practitioners can use it as a reference or to navigate their development. 

• Organizations can use it to better understand how to leverage people analytics.

• Course providers, whether academic and commercial, can use it as a guide to develop courses. A People Analytics course syllabus can easily be derived from the BoK.

• Accrediting bodies can use it as a framework or checklist for course accreditation or professional certifications.

The BoK includes a short description about a variety of topics across several dimensions of the People Analytics field. Links to additional resources on each topic will be included to direct users to supporting sources. This table outlines the framework for the topics included.

There is already enough subjectivity in terms of what constitutes People Analytics so the BoK attempts to be as objective as possible. It will also not include specific subjects that are common across other fields. The BoK will not include:

• Opinions on technology and service providers. 

• Elementary topics in math, statistics, computer science, and human resources. 

• Coding.

• Legal advice.

The BoK outlines People Analytics topics for a global audience, but drawing primarily from U.S. corporate practices. Where the BoK is used as the basis for a People Analytics curriculum, users are responsible for adapting their learning to their local context, as specific U.S. or international regulations are not detailed.

The BoK Team  plans to gather public feedback on the BoK content through several methods. These include surveys,  focus interviews, discussion forums, direct input from stakeholders and practitioners, and contributor submissions using standardized forms. The BoK Team will also conduct regular feedback sessions and provide summarized responses.

Yes, the BoK will be reviewed and updated periodically, based on new research, emerging trends, and feedback from the global People Analytics community. The update cycle includes:

• Annual Light Refresh: Review terminology, and make minor edits.

• Full Review Every 2 Years: Assess the structure, domains, and emerging practices.

• Ad Hoc Updates: For critical changes like legal compliance or technology disruptions, subject to  approval.

• All changes will be documented with rationale and attribution.

You can participate in the BoK development in several ways:

• Run for an elected position in the Education Committee of the Society for People Analytics.

• Provide feedback or respond to surveys and other listening activities.

• Work directly with the BoK Team by becoming an author, editor, reviewer, or product manager.