In a recent meeting with the CEO and top executive management team, an HR manager was asked to present several possible HR responses to the economic downturn, including layoffs. This responsibility best illustrates the HR manager's role as:

A) Builder
B) Navigator
C) Change partner
D) Controller

The HR manager's presentation of possible HR responses to the economic downturn, including layoffs, reflects the role of a change partner. A change partner is someone who can facilitate organizational change by identifying opportunities for change, designing interventions, and implementing strategies that help build the organization's capacity to respond effectively to change. In this case, the HR manager's presentation reflects their ability to identify potential responses to the economic downturn and work with the rest of the executive management team to design and implement an appropriate response.