Chapter 1

Introduction to Human Resource Management

After studying this chapter, you should be able to:After studying this chapter, you should be able to:

1. Explain what human resource management is and how it relates to the management process.

2. Give at least eight examples of how all managers can use human resource management concepts and techniques.

3. Illustrate the human resources responsibilities of line and staff (HR) managers.

4. Provide a good example that illustrates HR’s role in formulating and executing company strategy.

Human resources: meaning

Human resources means the collection of people and their characteristics at work. These are distinct and unique to an organization in several ways.

Why and how human resources (HR) are superior to physical resources

• HR alone appreciates over a period. • HR achieves in higher performance output than its

actual input. • HR brings value to all other assets. • Operational flexibility is possible with HR.

Human resource management: meaning

Human resource management is concerned with policies and practices that ensure the best use of the human resources for fulfilling the organizational and individual goals.

Functions of human resource management

Operative functions of HRM

Scope of human resource management

• Personnel or labour aspect deals with HR planning, recruitment, selection, placement, training and development, remuneration, etc.

• Welfare aspect deals with working conditions and amenities such as canteen, rest-rooms, etc.

• Industrial relations aspect deals with union–management relations like collective bargaining, grievance and disciplinary actions, etc.

Qualities of an HR manager

• Knowledge • Intelligence • Communication skills • Objectivity and fairness • Leadership and motivational qualities• Emotional maturity and• Empathy

The future role of HRM

• Change in the nature of work.• Widening scope of HR activities.• Greater emphasis on HRIS.• Change in labour market conditions. • Increasing importance of high performance work systems

(HPWS). • Growing need for measurement tools to evaluate HR

programmes.

Case Study• Maxine Vincent- New HR manager of Developmental Technologies-

which was earlier part of the long distance service provider company• Earlier she was assistant to the Vice President of HR• New company have less resources• They need to outsource certain HR functions• What HR functions can be outsourced?• What should be Maxine’s role as a strategic partner?

• STRATEGIC ROLE OF HR FUNCTION

• “ As a result of globalization and liberalization, HRM has acquired strategic importance in organization” Discuss.