Introduction
In most companies today, the HR function provides vital services to such stakeholders as job applicants, workers, supervisors, middle managers, and executives. Yet, the HR function tends to be located at the end of the business chain, on the reactive side, and too frequently centers on carrying out actions rather than achieving outcomes. The role of the HR function is frequently one of providing people, training, and secluded HR efforts after others have formulated organizational strategy and have initiated operational accomplishment. Cost centered management of worker benefits programs such as health insurance, workers' compensation, and pension plans have also figure outstandingly in an effort to control out of control operating costs (Dunn, 2006).
Discussion
The HRM department at our company does not really play a strategic role in the organization. Presently they spend the majority of their time doing the day to day things like hiring people, training, and other HR efforts that allow the business to function everyday. In order for business to achieve success in the every changing business world it is important for HR departments to become more strategically aligned with the overall goals and efforts of companies.
There are three key reasons why businesses are changing their methods. The first is reducing costs. HR departments should no longer want to be seen as just a support function and cost center, they need to show their value. Secondly, it is the competitiveness of business today and the fight to employ and retain people that will help drive the business. Finally, HR departments are now expected to have an understanding of how other departments function in order to make a valuable contribution to the whole of the business (Brockway, 2007).
The HR professional who will succeed in guiding their organizations into the future will be those who understand and use business strategy; understand corporate culture, plans and policies; recognize future problems and work solutions; can deal with all types of people; can communicate well verbally and in writing; and can recognize, recruit and train future executives. As organizations continue to move towards collective systems and combined financial resources for managing their human capital, we are likely to see more organizational structures combining both HR and Organizational Development (OD). The time has come to quit debating OD's involvement in HR systems and seek the present opportunities of showcasing the skills of OD in building organizational capacity and having a measurable impact on workforce productivity.
The Human Resources Department (HRD) is the unit responsible for providing the leadership to develop and refine key operational plans to promote the incr...
In conclusion, Human Resources department plays a significant role in the organization providing a wide range of valuable services to employees in various functional areas such as recruiting and training people, developing public relations, performance appraisals, maintaining workplace atmosphere, employee relations, benefits administration and much more. More than likely, HR essentially contributes to organization’s strategies and objectives through promotion of leadership activities, building friendly workplace environment and ensuring an efficient management of talented employees overall. As a strategic asset of a company, HR improves the human capital utilization and establishes the competitive workforce based on business and market demand.
Ramlall, S., Welch, T., Walter, J., & Tomlinson, D. (2009). Strategic HRM at the Mayo Clinic: A case study. Journal of Human Resources Education, 3(3), 13-35. Retrieved from http://business.troy.edu/jhre/Articles/PDF/3-3/31.pdf
First of all, I believe the scholars have their own definition and understanding of HRD because of different educational background and various disciplines. It is interesting for me to explore interviewees’ perspectives of this field. Dr. Githens thinks HRD is about supporting human potential and competence and fulfills societal workforce needs with organizational goals (R.P. Githens, personal communication, March 26, 2014). On the other hand, Mr. Collins sees HRD as being usually more concentrated on the dominant paradigm that includes productivity and profits with corporate settings (J.C.Collins, personal communication, March 25, 2014). However, from my point of view, HRD is a systematic process that helps people to obtain new capabilities, understand their values, and increase organizational efficiency in the workplace.
Whether an organization consists of five or 25,000 employees, human resources management is vital to the success of the organization. HR is important to all managers because it provides managers with the resources – the employees – necessary to produce the work for the managers and the organization. Beyond this role, HR is capable of becoming a strong strategic partner when it comes to “establishing the overall direction and objectives of key areas of human resource management in order to ensure that they not only are consistent with but also support the achievement of business goals.” (Massey, 1994, p. 27)
HR Development Versus Personnel Management: What's the difference?. 2014. [online] Iqpc.com. Available at: [Accessed 17 Apr. 2014].
Changing Roles. Traditionally, HR has been an administrative position-processing paperwork, benefits, hiring and firing, and compensation. However, recently HRM has moved from a traditional to a strategic role, the emphasis is on catering to the needs of consumers and workers. Before, HR was seen as the enemy and employees believed that HR’s main purpose was to protect management. Now, the position requires HRM to be more people oriented and protect their human capitol, the staff. In addition, human resource management has to be business savvy and think of themselves as strategic partners in the 21st century.
What is conflict? Conflict is a natural disagreement resulting from individuals or groups that differ in attitudes, beliefs, values or needs. Conflict exists in organisations because, by their very nature, organisations require social interaction between people with different goals, values, and backgrounds. Recent structural, economic and philosophical changes in the world of work have escalated the likelihood and level of conflict within the workplace organisations. Distinctions must be made, though between positive and negative aspects of conflict in the workplace.
Ulrich, D., Younger, J., and Brockbank, W. 2008. “The twenty-first century HR organization.” Human Resource Management, 47, pp.829-850.
“Hr is shifting from focusing on the organisation of the business to focusing on the business of the organisation” (Zulmohd 2011). David Ulrich points out four distinctive roles of HR which makes the organisation most effective and produce competitive advantage. He planned to change the structure of HR function and build HR around roles. The four key HR roles identified by Ulrich, one HR business partner/strategic partner – aligning HR and business strategy which plays an important role in setting strategic direction. It builds strategic relationship with clients and strategically manages the development of the workforce. The second key role is administrative expert which creates and must deliver effective HR processes made to tailor business needs. It also involves managing people and HR related costs. To continue to the third key role, change agent which understands the organisations culture, and takes the responsibility to communicate those changes internally and gain its employees trust. The final key role identified by Ulrich is employee advocate which is a core in HR role represents employees and helps to improve their experience, protect employees’ interests and confirm strategic initiatives are well balanced. Employee advocates must also “ensure fair, ethical and equitable people processes and practices.” “David Ulrich’s HR Model is about defining the HR roles and
Understanding the strategic potential of HRM is a relatively recent phenomenon. Strategic HRM attempts to bring HRM to the boardroom. It requires personnel policies and practices to be integrated so that they make a coherent whole, and also that this whole is integrated with the business or organisational strategy.
According to our textbook Human Resource Management (HRM) is the policies, practices, and systems that influence employees’ behavior, attitudes, and performance. “The human resources management process involves planning for, attracting, developing, and retaining employees as the HRM planning provides the rights kinds of people, in the right quantity, with the right skills, at the right time (Lussier, 2012, p. 240).” According to our textbook the typical responsibilities of the Human Resources department fall into three categories, and they are administrative services and transaction, which handle hiring employees. The second involves business partner services that focus on attracting, evolving, retaining employees by having a clear understanding
Human resource is the most valuable and unique asset of an organization. The successful management of an organization’s human resource is an exciting, dynamic and challenging task , especially at a time when the world has become a global village and economies are in a state of flux. The lack of talented resource and the growing expectation of the modern day employee has further increased the difficulty of the human resource function.
Human Resource management has a high impact on the overall organization being managed. HR management makes certain that human talent is used successfully and resourcefully to accomplish organizational goals. As an organization core competency, human resources has distinctive competencies that generates high value and sets apart an organization from competitors in areas such as productivity, quality and service, employee skills, and innovative changes. HR management activities can be grouped into categories which include strategic HR management; equal employment opportunity; staffing and talent management; compensation and benefits; and employee and industry relations. This paper will discuss some of these HR functions and the role Human Resources has at the company Zappos.com.
A comprehensive Human Resource Management Strategy plays a vital role in the achievement of an organisation 's overall strategic objectives and visibly illustrates that the human resources function fully understands and supports the direction in which the organisation is moving. A comprehensive HRM Strategy will also support other specific strategic objectives undertaken by the marketing, financial, operational and technology departments.