If, like many people, you’ve come back to work after Labor Day full of new energy for persistent challenges, read our interview with the Center for Effective Organization’s John Boudreau on business leaders’ perceptions of the strategic role of HR. You may be surprised.

For a tale of sheer determination to make HR more effective, read our account of Sandy Bietel’s efforts at Koniag, Inc., a corporation which settles the aboriginal land claims of Alaska Native people. Beitel walked into an organization that had seven retirement plans, scores of conflicting HR practices in its many subsidiaries, and no replacement for the recently-ousted CEO.