human resource management essay example

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Top 7 Examples of Essay on Human Resources

Table of Contents

Human capital is a valuable part of any business establishment, so the business must adapt to the growing need to invest in the proper management, development and retention of its people. Accordingly, many companies are now scrutinizing the science of human resource management. If you are a student in management or entrepreneurship, you will have to write at least one essay on human resources.

The main goal of this assignment for the student is to show his competence and ability to express his thoughts and information correctly. At first glance, it might seem like writing an essay on human resources is a daunting task because it involves a lot of effort. But if you stick to the guidelines, you can quickly and easily allocate time and effort to further write an essay on human resources. Find out how to do this below and get inspired by sample essays.

5 Tips on How to Write an Essay on Human Resources

Writing an essay on human resources can take you a lot of effort and time. Therefore, you need to know a few recommendations before starting work. They will help you make the process of writing an essay on human resources easy, fun and short-lived because you will learn how to allocate your energy and time properly.

• Choose a direction that is good and relevant to you about the essay on human resources. To not drown in this ocean of possibilities, first determine what is most interesting to you. What do you think about most often when faced with the study and writing essay on human resources? What gets your attention to the point where you forget about everything else? What would you like to improve in human resource management methodology?
• Once you’ve decided on the direction of writing an essay on human resources, find out what you like best. Depending on this, your essay will be descriptive, analytical, reflective, critical, or otherwise. Once you’ve combined a topic that interests you with the look of an essay on human resources, sketch out a few options for topics. At this stage, it is not the exact formulation of the important topic but understanding the essence of the problem and the potential for its solution when writing an essay on human resources.
• Remember that not every student can write a good essay on human resources without knowledge and information. Therefore, take the time to gather all the information you need to write an essay on human resources.
• When exploring the potential of an essay on human resources topic, pay attention to the availability of literary sources. In some cases, it is more logical to first find the necessary information in the sources, and then begin to form thoughts in the form of essay on human resources. And remember that this knowledge will help you write an essay and when performing other types of academic work.
• After selecting specific topics for an essay on human resources, evaluate each topic for how meaningful you can cover it. Do you have interesting observations and ideas on this topic? Can you surprise the reader with something? Do you feel inspired when discussing this topic? In writing an essay on human resources, you should understand that you will have to formulate a specific thesis and then prove it with arguments. Will you be able to do this for the selected topics?

7 Examples of Human Resource Management Essays

This selection of 7 essays on human resources will help you find the topic you would like to write an essay about in Human Resource Management. After reading, you will be inspired, and it will be easier for you to decide what you would like to write about because this topic touches on many aspects of this type of management. You will also acquire new and valuable write an essay and perform knowledge about human resources to later independently write an essay on human resources.

Human Resource Essay Example 1: “Do I See Myself as a Competent and Good Manager?”

A manager is a person who holds a permanent managerial position and is empowered to make decisions about specific activities of an organization. This person must have higher education and bear a huge responsibility for the success of the company or projects. I believe that a competent human resource manager should know how to correctly use management mechanisms, tools and management methods.

The relevance of these phenomena is due to several factors. Firstly, there is no doubt that the efficiency of the organization as a whole, the effectiveness of the labour activity of employees, etc. directly depends on the level of construction of the management system. Within the framework of the new paradigm of personnel management, the human resource is positioned as the most important resource of the organization, since it is the source of the formation of strategic competitive advantages. Therefore, the functioning of all systems of the organization directly depends to one degree or another on the human factor.

Secondly, do not forget that management in some countries has a rather short history of development in comparison with developed countries. And so every manager needs to constantly learn and experiment. And this necessitates the adaptation of foreign management experience to domestic realities. In our time, many authors have published a significant number of works within the framework of this discipline, and many management models have also been formed. I believe that according to the requirements a manager:

• must be confident in their decisions, be fair;
• must continuously learn and apply new knowledge in practice;
• suggest new good and proven techniques improve the outcome of the project;
• be able to competently and quickly analyze a large flow of information.

In modern conditions, a manager must have many qualities that will help him solve all the issues that arise. After all, a manager must be a purposeful, energetic and persistent innovator who knows how to manage subordinates. It is these qualities that I also possess, which gives me the opportunity to apply for this position.

It is also worth noting that in modern conditions, the correctness of the behaviour of a business entity in the market to a decisive extent depends on the adequacy and timeliness of managerial decision-making by the head. After all, the following points can be identified, which entirely depend on the personality of the leader, his business and human qualities:

• choosing the right direction of the business;
• the ability to anticipate the development of the market situation;
• the correct choice of development strategy;
• selection of team members;
• correct setting of tasks for team members;
• the ability to build viable plans;
• the ability to establish relationships with other entities: suppliers, consumers, governing bodies and others;
• many other points are related to the development of the organization in a constantly changing market environment.

All these aspects of the organization’s activities are understandable and important to me, therefore I am ready to make effective management decisions on them. Therefore, I see myself as a manager and consider myself a worthy candidate.

Human Resource Essay Example 2: “Purpose, Tasks and Functions of Human Resource Management”

Currently, in the age of information technology, when there is an active change in the structure of society and the consciousness of people, it is extremely important to carry out a process to improve the management processes in the organization. But first, every person who has to improve the quality of human resource management needs to understand the basic functions and tasks of such a complex and responsible process.

Human resources are all employees and their responsibilities in any organization. They include production personnel and management personnel. Throughout the development of mankind and civilizations, people had to regulate relationships for the sake of survival and improving the quality of life. Therefore, in our time, human resource management is a complex system that includes interconnected and interdependent subsystems for the creation, use and development of labour resources.

What are the types of definitions of such a phenomenon as human resource management? Human resource management is an approach to a person as the main factor in achieving the goals of an organization. This is an approach to a person as a source of income and an investment. This is an analysis of the organization’s human resource needs. This is an analysis of the situation with human resources in the environment external to the organization. And also this is the formation of the organization’s human resources and the creation of a system of employee interactions.

The main goal of this process is to ensure the use of company employees and their human resources in such a way that the employer can get the maximum possible benefit from their skills and abilities, and the employees can get the maximum possible material and psychological satisfaction from their work. This process is based not only on the ability to organize a team from a quantitative and qualitative point of view, but also on the ability to use psychological techniques.

Each manager should be prepared for the fact that personnel management is a more complex process than managing the technological part of the production. This is due to the high likelihood of conflict situations on both work and personal issues.

Depending on the line of business of a particular company, a human resource manager must perform the functions inherent in this activity. They are different and each of them gives a certain desired result if the process is established by the manager correctly and correctly. What are the most common and working functions of managers or people involved in human resource management?

• Forecasting the need for personnel working;
• planning the number and quality structure of personnel in the divisions of the enterprise;
• searching for qualified personnel;
• holding competitions for vacancies;
• certification of applicants for work;
• organization of the adaptation process for new employees;
• organization of personnel training;
• development of recommendations for professional development;
• organization of personnel retraining;
• organization of management training and a number of others.

Since the functioning of any enterprise is based on the human factor, there is an objective need to regulate this process. It can be argued that the final result of any project depends on the properly organized activities of the staff, be it a small project or a large-scale project to create an innovative product.

Human Resource Essay Example 3: “Staff and Manager Motivation in Human Resource Management”

As you know, human resources are the foundation of any production process, since it is on them that the effectiveness of a particular activity depends. Therefore, project human resource management is a process that results in the efficient use of human resources. The human resource management process of a project involves the organization, management and leadership of the team that directly implements the process. And I think that this should be given special attention.

In any organization, each person involved in the production process is endowed with certain responsibilities. Otherwise, they can be called project personnel. In my opinion, the basis of the project’s human resource management process is the motivation of the participants. The level of staff motivation is desirable for their high-quality and organized work, both with clients and within the enterprise, because their work directly affects the efficiency of the organization. And so we can conclude that employees are one of the key and important resources of the company.

But sometimes crisis situations provoke a difficult situation for the enterprise, due to which panic can arise in the state. Such an environment, naturally, demotivates employees, and the reasons may be different. This can be uncertainty about the future, a decrease or delay in wages, reductions, and increased workload.

The leader plays an important role in motivating employees. The leader is obliged to take part in all areas of the organization. Everyone understands that the market is now in stagnation and that no one has any illusions about this. But the employee must understand what is being done in the company to overcome the unfavourable situation. And to be sure that the management will not abandon them, that they are needed, they are engaged in important business and receive a worthy reward for it.

It is very important to correctly decompose the project and divide it into manageable stages, if necessary, into subprojects and other components. This procedure is performed at the initial stage of the project. Its purpose is to provide a good basis for sound planning. It ensures that plans are made for reasonably chosen time horizons.

When dividing the project, it is necessary to describe the goals of each component and, at least in the first approximation, estimate the resource requirements for their implementation. It is equally important to draw up a milestone achievement plan and milestone level charts prior to each project phase. Moreover, participants must agree on which milestones are particularly critical to the project and ensure that everyone understands the severity of the implications.

In order for the project to achieve its ultimate goal, it is extremely important to organize and provide for all possible nuances. It can be argued that the processes of organizing a project contain three components.

• The first is organizational planning, which involves drawing up a plan and analyzing all stages of work.
• The second link is the appointment of personnel, in accordance with the required tasks and goals.
• And finally, the third stage is team development. An important point here is the motivation of the personnel, the general focus, the team’s ability to work, and the fighting spirit.

Therefore, of course, the success of any project must be backed by a very competent and wise leader who knows the psychological characteristics of each employee, who knows how to properly organize the production process, is able to set incentives and motivation for the staff. Thus, the success of the project is ensured even in crisis situations.

Human Resource Essay Example 4: “Variety Management”

The structural basis of management in the field of various art consists of an organization (theatre, production centre, a philharmonic society, etc.), whose effectiveness will depend on the correctly found model, as well as the personality and professional training of the manager. Each direction on the stage has its own management models, together with the criteria for its effectiveness.

The main goals of management in the field of pop are such as the creation of the most favourable conditions for the promotion of creation and the dissemination of art, for creativity, as well as the professional growth of performers, the development of genres of professional art, copyright protection, and the achievement of optimal financial results. Management in the field of professional art is, in general, a combination of management of the artistic process, economic and organizational activities. The solution of these problems is inextricably linked with the improvement of the culture of serving the population and the formation of services for different categories of the population.

If you were to find yourself behind the scenes of any performance, you would witness total chaos. For example, there might be actors in one corner rehearsing their lines, while tailors and seamstresses hemming their suits at the same time. The background can swirl right and left while the team stands by, ready to carry furniture for the next scene. However, at the centre of all this chaos is a critical person and this is the leader. He coordinates all aspects of the production, from costumes, sets to actors and rehearsals, so that everything goes well.

Stage managers typically provide practical and organizational support to the director, actors, designers, theatre crew and technicians throughout the production process. I believe that such a position presupposes high professionalism and moral training, which will positively influence the work process during crisis situations in an institution or in a team.

Human Resource Essay Example 5: “How to Start the Process of Human Resource Development and How to Avoid Problems?”

Human potential tends to grow constantly. This is due to the fact that over time, an enterprise or organization begins to demand more and more efficiency from its employees. That is why the development of human resources is one of the key issues of the firm’s management.

One of the most difficult periods for any employee is his adaptation to the enterprise. Not only do newcomers have to familiarize themselves with all the organizational issues, but they also have to take a certain place in the team and go through serious psychological pressure. The introduction of a person into a new position is also of great importance, namely, acquaintance with official duties.

The policy of the enterprise management on these issues is of great importance in the course of these processes. A friendly atmosphere is also important, and methodological support is also required. For example, large firms have practices such as conducting lectures and seminars for new personnel, as well as introducing training programs. Thus, the development of the potential of each employee can be quick and beneficial for the company or organization.

But the enterprise can often face difficulties. One of the most important problems faced by the human resource of an enterprise is paying insufficient attention to this issue. Nevertheless, managing people requires specialized knowledge, as well as skills and mechanisms. So, the first thing worth paying attention to is the development of leadership in the team. Moreover, this should relate specifically to the working moments, and not to the personal relationships of employees. Unfortunately, this is often neglected by many businesses.

Another important problem of the organization is paying insufficient attention or completely ignoring the need for human resource management. However, it should be understood that cadres do not have the ability to self-regulate. A clear policy should be developed on this issue.

Also, one of the most serious shortcomings of modern management is considering the organization separately from the staff. So, sometimes employees are not ready for changes in the work of the enterprise. Therefore, the manager must understand the main concept of personnel management. This category includes several aspects:

• economic component;
• strict subordination to a single leader;
• definition of a clear management hierarchy;
• development of discipline norms, as well as a system of rewards and penalties;
• clear definition of the area of ​​responsibility of each of the employees;
• development of organizational culture, thanks to which the personnel feel the unity of the work collective.

In conclusion, I can say that the biggest mistake can be considered an underestimation of the human component in the work of an enterprise, which interferes with the development of human resources. It is often this leadership oversight that causes serious economic problems.

Human Resource Essay Example 6: “What Recommendations Can I Give on the Management of Human Resources?”

In every enterprise or organization, the main motive for development is the competent management of human resources and their improvement. In order for the use of human resources in the enterprise to be effective, managers must be guided by a number of recommendations in their activities. For example, the best motivation for employees will be a clear demonstration of the career growth of senior management. Why is this done? Personnel must set specific goals for themselves and be aware of the reality of their achievement.

Another of the most important aspects is decent wages, even in the most difficult and crisis periods. Employees must receive the agreed amount in order to realize their value to the organization. In any case, the employee will leave the company if he cannot fully support himself and his family.

Also, employees must thoroughly know comprehensive information about their enterprise, as well as the mechanism for making a profit. The knowledge of employees should not be limited to a narrow range of their duties. It is important to note that in communicating with each of the employees, respect should be guided because each of them has the opportunity to leave for another organization.

But the main recommendation is that the manager thoroughly knows and learns new methods of human resource management in the organization. What it is? Methods are a way of influencing a team or an individual employee to achieve a set goal, coordinating his activities in the production process.

Administrative methods are based on power, discipline and punishment. They rely on the administrative subordination of the object to the subject, based on the existing management hierarchy. The main functions of administrative methods are to provide a stable legal environment for the activities of an organization, to protect a specific environment, to guarantee rights and freedoms. And economic methods are based on the use of economic incentives. With their help, material incentives for the team, individual workers are carried out.

By the mechanisms of the economic method, the state has a tax, credit and financial system, a price system, the size of the minimum wage, and plans for economic development.

Socio-psychological methods are based on the use of moral incentives to work and influence personnel with the help of psychological mechanisms in order to translate an administrative task into a conscious responsibility, an inner need of a person. This can be achieved through:

• building a team, creating a normal psychological climate and creative atmosphere;
• personal example;
• meeting the cultural and spiritual needs of workers;
• the establishment of social norms of behaviour and social stimulation of the development of the team;
• the establishment of moral sanctions and encouragement;
• social protection.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the role of human resources should be clearly understood at all levels. This is one of the most important elements of the functioning of not only a single enterprise, but also the state as a whole. It is important to remember that a person is of the highest value, and his abilities and intelligence are of the greatest economic interest. Therefore, managers should not neglect the trust of their employees.

Human Resource Essay Example 7: “What Are the Main Directions of the Psychologist’s Activity in the Human Resource Management System?”

The place of a psychologist at an enterprise is very important because it is this person with a higher education who can objectively assess many human qualities and ways of their development. I believe that the main focus of a psychologist is to create a reserve for the internal growth of a specialist, as well as to participate in career planning. This is done by describing the personal qualities of employees and their development strategies. Determination of opportunities and boundaries for growth and self-development is very important for the categories of specialists and managers.

Also, a specialist in the field of psychology, in my opinion, should be engaged in identifying factors that prevent the emergence and development of conflicts since conflicts cause enormous damage to the organization. It is possible to reduce the likelihood of conflicts by carrying out the correct selection and placement of personnel, taking into account not only professional but also psychological characteristics.

Other cases in which a specialist psychologist can help identify motivation and needs for changing the system of material incentives. In general, with any organizational change, a psychologist’s participation is necessary to reduce the resistance of employees. Latent resistance is especially dangerous. What other types of psychologist activities are there in the human resource management system?

Professional selection is a procedure that, in the case of professions with relative professional suitability, helps assess the effectiveness of an employee and establish a forecast of his professional development. Personnel selection – creating a reserve, completing departments following specific criteria (professional competence, specialization features, etc.) Personnel adaptation is the process of getting new employees acquainted with the organization, with new working conditions and changes in the behaviour and psychological climate of the organization.

Personnel assessment is one of the most critical areas of work with personnel. It is carried out constantly throughout all stages of the personnel life cycle: recruiting, adaptation, consolidation (stabilization), development, leaving (moving personnel to subsidiaries, branches), etc. Assessment is a method of a comprehensive assessment of personnel that every psychologist should know in organizations. It is based on using a system of complementary methods, focused on the real work behaviour of the evaluated employees and taking into account the specifics of the requirements of job positions.

Psychological support of human resource management is a set of technologies, activities, procedures, and application principles, involving the use of psychological mechanisms and patterns of human functioning, who acts as a subject of labour, a collective subject of activity and a social community. I think that the role of psychological support is to optimize the ergonomic, organizational, informational, hygienic prerequisites for the activities of the personnel of the enterprise.

Still, essential tasks for a psychologist are such procedures as psychological, educational activities and psychological examination. Increasing the psychological literacy of staff, creating a favourable image of both the psychologist’s activities in the organization and the tasks of psychological support, popularizing and explaining the latest psychological research, developing the need for psychological knowledge and skills among staff and the desire to use them in professional activities and other life situations.

Expertise is understood as the study of any issue requiring special knowledge, with the presentation of a reasoned opinion. For example, to establish the compliance of professionals with the requirements of the labour post. As well as a study of organizational projects, regulatory documents, workplaces, working conditions, work and rest regimes, incentive and motivation systems for work, systems for the distribution of labour functions, corporate culture, causes of conflicts and causes of injury.

Therefore, do not neglect a specialist in the field of psychology. In my opinion, he can best understand how to properly manage human resources and have the best influence on personnel to achieve better results in an organization or an enterprise.

As you can see, an essay on human resources can be a fun and educational assignment for you, which will open you up to important new knowledge in this area. With the right effort, you can write an essay on human resources well and then it will be easier for you to write more complex academic work while at university. So don’t be afraid to get started!

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Essay on Human Resource Management (HRM): Top 6 Essays

In this essay we will discuss about ‘Human Resource Management’. Find paragraphs, long and short essays on ‘Human Resource Management’ especially written for school and college students.

• Essay on Human Resource Management

Essay Contents:

• Essay on the Functions of Human Resource Management

Essay # 1. Introduction to Human Resource Management :

Men, materials, machines and money are considered as the main factors of production. Out of all these factors, men are considered as an important factor. It is very difficult to handle the other factors of production with­out the efficient use of human resources.

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Several terms have been used by various management thinkers to represent human re­sources. These include ‘personnel’, ‘people at work’, ‘manpower’, ‘staff’ and ’employ­ees. Whatever may be the term used, human resource of any organization consists of all individuals engaged in any of the organiza­tional activities at all levels.

The importance of human factor can be judged from the point that some people consider management and personnel/human resource management as one and the same thing. Lawrence A. Appley observed that “Management and personnel administration are one and the same. They should never be separated. Management is personnel administration”. Of all the tasks of management, managing the human component is the central and most important task, because all else depends on how well it is done.

With the increase in number of employees in an organization, greater emphasis is being placed on personnel management and also on the adoption of standardized procedures and compensation plans. The personnel department helps management in using and developing appropriate manpower to achieve organizational goals.

Human resource management is responsible for how people are treated in organizations. It is responsible for bringing people into the organization, helping them perform their work, compensating them for their labors, and solving problems that arise.

Essay # 2. Definition of Human Resource Management :

Human Resource Management (HRM) has come to be recognized as an inherent part of management, which is concerned with the human resources of an organization.

Some of the definitions of human resource management as given by various persons are:

Human Resource Management is the function within an organization that focuses on recruitment, management, and providing direction for the people who work in the organization.

Human Resource Management is the understanding and application of the policy and procedures that directly affect the people working within the project team and working group. These policies include recruitment, retention, reward, personal development, training and career development.

Human Resource Management is the effective use of human resources in order to enhance organizational performance.

Human Resource Management is the organizational function that deals with issues related to people such as compensation, hiring, performance management, organization development, safety, wellness, benefits, employee motivation, communication, administration, and training.

Essay # 3. Scope of Human Resource Management :

The scope of HRM is very wide.

It covers the following aspects:

(i) Personnel Aspect :

This is concerned with manpower planning, recruitment, selection, placement, transfer, promotion, training and development, layoff and retrenchment, remuneration, incentives, productivity etc.

(ii) Welfare Aspect :

It deals with working conditions and amenities such as canteens, creches, rest and lunch rooms, housing, transport, medical assistance, education, health and safety, recreation facilities, etc.

(iii) Industrial Relations Aspect :

This covers union-management relations, joint consultation, collective bargaining, grievance and disciplinary procedures, settlement of disputes, etc.

Essay # 4. Objectives of Human Resource Management :

Objectives are predetermined goals to which individual or group activity in an organization is directed. Objectives of human resource management are influ­enced by organizational objectives and individual goals.

Some of the objectives of HRM are:

a. To ensure effective utilization of human resources.

b. To ensure respect for human beings.

c. To identify and satisfy the needs of individuals.

d. To achieve and maintain high morale among employees.

e. To provide the organization with well-trained and well-motivated em­ployees.

f. To increase to the fullest the employee’s job satisfaction and self-actual­ization.

g. To develop and maintain a quality of work life.

h. To provide better conditions of employment.

i. To develop overall personality of each employee in its multidimensional aspect.

j. To enhance employee’s capabilities to perform the present job.

k. To provide fair wages to employees.

l. To inculcate the sense of team spirit, team work and inter-team collabo­ration.

Essay # 5. Nature of Human Resource Management :

Human Resource Management is a process of bringing people and organiza­tions together so that the goals of each are met.

The various features of HRM include:

a. It is pervasive in nature as it is present in all enterprises.

b. Its focus is on results rather than on rules.

c. It tries to help employees develop their potential fully.

d. It encourages employees to give their best to the organization.

e. It is all about people at work, both as individuals and groups.

f. It tries to put people on assigned jobs in order to produce good results.

g. It helps an organization meet its goals in the future by providing for competent and well- motivated employees.

h. It tries to build and maintain cordial relations between people working at various levels in the organization.

i. It is a multidisciplinary activity, utilizing knowledge and inputs drawn from psychology, economics, etc.

Essay # 6. Functions of Human Resource Management:

Every manager in an organization has to perform the personal functions in one form or the other in order to get the things done through others.

The functions of human resource management can be classified as:

(i) Managerial Functions.

(ii) Operative Functions.

(i) Managerial Functions :

The managerial functions are mainly concerned with planning, organizing, directing and controlling the various activities of personnel management.

These functions are explained below:

(a) Planning:

Planning is deciding in advance what to do; how to do; where to do; and who is to do it. For personnel manager, planning means the determination in advance of personnel programme. Planning is concerned about present manpower positions, what number and kind of people are required for the organization.

(b) Organization:

After the establishment of organizational goals and objectives, human resource manager must design and develop organization structure to carry out the various operations. Organization involves identification and grouping the activities to be performed and dividing them among the individuals and creating authority and responsibility relationships among them.

(c) Directing:

Directing as a managerial function involves building sound industrial and human relations among people working in the organization. The direction function of the personnel manager is meant to motivate and guide the people to achieve organization goals. The employees can be motivated through salary administration, career planning, provision of health and safety requirements etc.

(d) Controlling:

Controlling function is concerned with regulation of activities in accordance with the personnel plans. It includes checking, verifying and comparing actual with the plans, identifying deviations if any and correcting them. Auditing, training programmers, analysing, labor turnover records, conducting separate interviews are some of the means for controlling the personnel management function.

(ii) Operative Functions :

Operative functions are those functions which are usually delegated to the human resource department as these require specialized skills and knowledge in their performance. All these operative functions are interacted by managerial functions. Further these functions are to be performed in conjunction with management functions.

Some of the operative functions of human resource management are:

(a) Employment :

It is the first operative function of HRM. Employment is concerned with securing and employing the people possessing required kind and level of human resources necessary to achieve the organizational objectives. It covers the functions such as job analysis, human resources planning, recruitment, selection, placement and induction.

(i) Job Analysis:

It is the process of study and collection of information relating to the operations and responsibilities of a specific job.

It includes:

i. Collection of data, information, facts and ideas relating to various aspects of jobs including men, machines and materials.

ii. Preparation of job description, job specification, job requirements and employee specification which help in identifying the nature, levels and quantum of human resources.

(ii) Human Resources Planning:

Human resource planning involves fore­casting the human resource requirements of an organization and the fu­ture supply of human resources. It is a process for determination and assuring that the organization will have an adequate number of qualified persons, available at proper times, performing jobs which would meet the needs of the organization.

(iii) Recruitment:

It is the process of seeking and attracting prospective candidates against a vacancy in an organization.

After having determined the number of persons required for different jobs and requirements of different jobs, the recruitment process will begin.

The term recruitment may be defined as the process of searching the candidates for employment and stimulating them to apply for jobs in the organization. In other words, the term ‘recruitment’ stands for discovering the sources from where potential employees will be selected.

(iv) Selection:

Selection is the process of identifying and establishing the credentials of a candidate for a job to ensure success.

Recruitment vs. Selection :

Both recruitment and selection are the two phases of the employment process. Recruitment comes first and is followed by Selection.

(v) Induction and Orientation:

Induction and orientation are the tech­niques by which a new employee is rehabilitated in the changed sur­roundings and introduced to the practices, policies, purposes and people etc., of the organization.

(b) Training and Development :

This process aims to train and develop employees to improve and update their knowledge and skills, so as to help them perform their jobs better. The process also includes developing the attitudes, beliefs and values of the employees to match the organizational needs. This comprises of performance appraisal, training, management/executive development, career planning and development.

(i) Performance Appraisal:

It is the process of evaluating the performance of an employee on the job and developing a plan for improvement.

(ii) Training:

Training is the systematic development of the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to perform a job.

After the employee is selected, the most important part of human resource program is to impart training to the employee. Training plays a significant role in human resource development. Human resources are the life-blood of any organization. Only through trained and efficient employees, the organization can achieve its objectives.

Training is defined as “the art of increasing the knowledge and skill of an employee for doing a particular job”.

Since training involves time, effort and money by an organization, so an organization should carefully design its training program. The objectives and need for training should be clearly identified and the method or type of training should be chosen according to the needs and objectives established.

Need of Training:

Training is necessary both for existing and new employees. It increases the skill of the employees.

The need of training arises because of the following factors:

(a) Rapid Changes in Technology:

As the technology is changing at as fast pace, so employees must learn new techniques to make use of advanced technology.

(b) Frequent Accidents:

Due to increase in number of industrial accidents, an effective training program should be made for the safety of the employees.

(c) Quality Conscious Customers:

As the customers have become quality conscious, so there is need of training to employees for improving the quality of products.

(d) Increase in Productivity:

Effective training helps in increasing productivity and reduction in production costs of an organization.

(e) Supply of Trained Personnel:

Training ensures an efficient supply of trained employees at all levels of organization.

Benefits of Training :

Some of the benefits of training are:

a. Better performance of employees both in terms of quantity and quality of output.

b. Elimination of wastages which leads to reduction in cost of production.

c. Reduction in needs of supervision.

d. It helps in developing and improving the organizational culture.

e. Increase in morale of the employees.

f. Reduction in number of accidents.

g. Improvement in quality of work.

h. Reduction in machine breakdown and maintenance cost.

i. Increase in productivity which results in enhanced earnings for employees.

j. Increase in self-confidence.

k. More opportunity for growth/promotions.

(iii) Development:

It is the concept of developing the employees in an organization to meet future changes and challenges.

(iv) Career Planning and Development:

It refers to identifying one’s career goals and formulating plans of reaching them. It attempts to harmonize an individual’s career aspiration with organizational needs.

(c) Compensation :

Compensation function is concerned with securing adequate and equitable remuneration to persons for their contribution. Fixation of compensation or wage rates for different categories of employees is an important task of management. Function related to job evaluation, wage and salary administration, incentives, bonus and fringe benefits falls under this category.

Compensation is what employees receive in exchange for their contribution to the organization.

Generally, employees offer their service for three types of rewards:

b. Incentives.

c. Benefits.

Pay refers to the base wages and salaries employees normally receive. Incentives in the form of bonuses, commissions and profit sharing plans are incentives designed to encourage employees to produce results beyond normal expectations.

Benefits such as insurance, medical, recreational, retirement etc. represent a more indirect type of compensation.

So, the term compensation is a comprehensive one including pay, incentives, and benefits offered by employers for hiring the services of employees. In addi­tion to these, managers have to observe legal formalities for offering physical as well as financial security to employees. All these play an important role in any HR department efforts to obtain, maintain and retain an effective workforce.

(i) Job Evaluation:

It is the systematic determination of the value of each job in relation to other jobs in the organization.

(ii) Wage and Salary Administration:

The process of formulating and operating a suitable wage and salary program is known as wage and salary administration.

(iii) Incentives:

Incentives are the rewards an employee earns in addition to regular salary based on his performance or of the collective performance.

(iv) Bonus:

Bonus is primarily a share in the surpluses and is often directly related to the organization performance.

(v) Fringe Benefits:

Fringe benefits are monetary and non-monetary benefits including disablement benefits, housing facilities, canteen facilities, conveyance facilities, educational facilities, recreational facilities, medical and welfare facilities, post-retirement benefits, etc.

(d) Integration :

The basic objective of human resource management is to secure maximum performance from the employees in order to accomplish the objectives of an organization. This is possible through better integration between the organi­zation and its employees. The integration between the two can be achieved through three things-motivation, leadership and communication.

(e) Maintenance :

Maintenance function is basically concerned with the working conditions and welfare facilities provided to the employees. Morale and motivation of the employees is greatly influenced by these conditions. Working conditions include measures taken for health, safety and comfort of the employees. Welfare facilities include provisions of rest rooms, cafeteria, safe drinking water, education for children of employees etc.

(f) Industrial Relations :

It is the responsibility of human resource manager to maintain industrial peace in the organization. This can be done through collective bargaining, joint consultation and settlement of disputes, whenever they arise.

(g) Personnel Records :

Another function of human resource manager is to maintain the records of the employees. This is helpful in taking decisions relating to transfers and promotions, performance appraisal etc. These also help in identifying the weaknesses in the employees and the areas in which they need training.

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Essay on Human Resource Management

Introduction

Human resource management is a sensitive matter that any organization has to take into consideration for all activities and operations to run flawlessly. Companies that ensure employees are well handled are more likely to do better in business as compared to firms that have no regard for their workers (Mankins & Garton, 2017). Studying human resource management is essential as it helps many understand various notions and concepts on the topic of discussion. The course has been interesting as it enlightens the society on the role of such departments within a working organization. A thorough analysis of the course indicates that three major insights are vital for the achievement of the desired results. The first idea is based on employees being an essential part of the business (Cascio, 2015). The second idea on human resource management that is evident throughout the course is that firms should invest heavily in their employees. The third concept that can be learnt from the course materials is the fact that human resource management should always apply the right strategies and ensure that decisions are made in a consultative manner (Mankins & Garton, 2017). The paper aims to examine the three insights, their practical application, and why they are valuable in establishing proper human resource management.

HRM Application

Human resource management is vital for every organization as it shapes the direction that operations take within the organization. It is important to examine critically how HRM influences employee relationships within the workplace. From the course materials provided, one can presume that employees of any company are as important as customers (Mankins & Garton, 2017). Employees form an essential part of the company as they spearhead various programs that are important for the continuity of company operations. Without a workforce that is committed to achievement of set objectives, a firm will fail in its quest to become a top company in the industry. Established human resource departments are always committed to ensuring that employees are kept comfortable and satisfied for better delivery during company operations. Employers must provide a conducive working environment for their employees, including safety and health conditions (Mankins & Garton, 2017). Learning of human resource concepts helps one gain essential skills of employee management, performance assessment, and proper supervision of operations. When an employer wants to introduce a quality product in the market, he/she should first provide quality employment.

The second idea that is evident from the course is the fact that investing heavily in employees pays significantly. For instance, companies that leave their employees demoralized and unsatisfied end up posting poor performance at the end of the day (Cascio, 2015). Investing in employees includes preparing training workshops and developmental programs that aim at improving the skills of each employer. There is a need for every firm to implement policies that aim to improve employee happiness as it is a prerequisite for proper performance. The course materials highlight the importance of motivation and commitment among employees that work for any organization (Cascio, 2015). Employee assistance initiatives such as therapy programs and other facilities within a workplace motivate employees to deliver their best. Constructing and availing such amenities to employees is capital intensive, and not all firms within the industry can be able to achieve such a status. Investing heavily in employee relations can prove helpful for any firm that intends to do better in business.

The third insight that one can learn from the course material is the idea of being open-minded and inclusive when it comes to decision making within an organization. Human resource departments should be at the forefront of ensuring that decisions are arrived at after a thorough consultative process within the organization (Bolman & Deal, 2017). Firms should consult their employees before implementing various rules that shape operations within the working environment. There should be a specific approach tailored to handle multiple problems that arise during work operations. Every HRM department must provide the best conditions that can lead to the achievement of set objectives. For instance, when an employee messes within the work setting, the HRM must apply the set guidelines to handle the matter. Procedures applied should be void from biasness and rigidity in a bid to ensure justice and inclusivity (Bolman & Deal, 2017). Studying principles of human resource management enlightens one on how to value employees’ opinions, especially within an organization with a huge floor area.

Learning assessment

Learning of HRM concepts helps one understand why treating employees better can help a company do better. For instance, through proper management of resources, one can come up with organizational structures and designs that promote performance among employees. Corporate design is also an essential aspect in the definition of roles that each individual should play within the work setting (Ugoani, 2020). The concepts learnt in class change one’s way of thinking and approaching of various issues within the community. From learning experience, companies lose a significant productive power to time-wasting, which has derailed improvement of operations. Firms must consider proper management of resources an critical factor that influences production activities.

Critical Analysis

Learning concepts on human resource management helps those in leadership positions to weigh what is essential for employees and organizational growth. Companies that have incorporated HRM principles in their workplaces do better as compared to those that are insensitive to employee issues (Nazir & Islam, 2017). Employee motivation and happiness evoke a sense of responsibility in an individual, prompting such employees to deliver even better. Ethical standards that are acceptable internationally must apply for the HRM department to serve effectively with purpose. In essence, it is through the learning of HR concepts that one can develop knowhow on the handling of various managerial predicaments that arise at a workplace. Inclusivity and open-mindedness are essential virtues that can help a leader implement a culture that aims to promote performance (Mankins & Garton, 2017). Practitioners in this field can learn a lot from the course as it directs individuals on basics that must be incorporated for proper human resource management.

To sum it up, HR management principles require high levels of ethical standards that regard employee happiness. Company goals should be aligned with resources that are present for disposal. Employees should be considered in every decision making process as they form an essential part of the business. Employee welfare should be prioritized to ensure they are comfortable to deliver professionally. Apprising employees and allowing them to go for vacation contributes significantly to employee happiness and eventual retention. Equally, investing heavily in employees can prove helpful in achieving the set goals for the firm. By borrowing theoretically from concepts learnt in class, HR departments have an obligation of ensuring that productivity is improved, given the available scarce resources. Decision making within an organization should be done through consultations, which include employees. The course is relevant to principles that encompass the concept of human resource management within any organization.

Bolman, L. G., & Deal, T. E. (2017).  Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership . John Wiley & Sons.

Cascio, W. F. (2015).  Managing human resources . New York: McGraw-Hill.

Mankins, M. C., & Garton, E. (2017).  Time, Talent, Energy: Overcome Organizational Drag and Unleash Your Team s Productive Power . Harvard Business Review Press.

Nazir, O., & Islam, J. U. (2017). Enhancing organizational commitment and employee performance through employee engagement.  South Asian Journal of Business Studies .

Ugoani, J. N. N. (2020). Managing Employee Relations and its Effect on Organizational Success.  International Journal of Social Sciences Perspectives ,  6 (1), 1-10.

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Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) Essay

Stakeholders in shrm, how stakeholders evaluate effectiveness of shrm practice.

Modern business environment dictates that organizations need to employ effective strategies in their operations for assurance of success, survival, and growth. There are many changes taking place in the environment in which organizations operate. Therefore, organizations need to take adapt to those changes and equip themselves well with adequate ‘tools’ to help such organizations win and realize growth.

Strategic human resource management (SHRM) is a concept that has evolved to define modern organizations within perspectives of strategic planning. This research paper constitutes the goal of defining the concept, exploring it with regard to key stakeholders, and subsequently, assessing how SHRM goals can be evaluated effectively. Such information will be important especially to organizations in the process of working out their SHRM policies.

There are increasing levels of uncertainty coupled with intensification of competition that have combined to force organizations to put more emphasis on developing key core competencies (Yuksel, 2011). The development of these key competencies is seen to aim at increasing the competitive advantage of organizations in the dynamic environments.

Prahalad and Hamel (1994) observed that those organizations that possess unique and non-substitutable resources and competencies competitor organizations do not have, exhibit high chances of realizing sustainable advantage (cited in Yuksel, 2011). An organization’s competitive core competences and capabilities can be obtained from numerous sources.

Such sources include possessing effective technology, enhancing organizational learning, and encouraging strategic flexibility and innovative capacity found among the human resources (Yuksel, 2011). As a result, it can be deduced that effective creation, organization, and leverage of knowledge throughout the organizations are becoming increasingly the main sources of competitive advantage in fast changing, information-driven economy.

Boxall and Purcell (2003) contend that almost all organizations have strategies since it is the duty of organizations’ managers and employees to design and implement strategic choices for their organization to function on in achieving goals (Ojo, 2011). Known as strategic choices, organizations are forced to create and implement sustaining strategic choices that become vital in dealing with strategic problems and challenges within the organization.

In this way, a strategy may be developed and implemented by a particular company either to maintain viability of the organization or to produce sustained advantaged within the organization in dealing with the external environment (Ojo, 2011). In creating these strategies, the aspect of human resource has become important and research indicates that human resource practices play and influence the direction and shape of any particular strategy of an organization (Ojo, 2011).

Strategies represent an organization’s capacity to compete with other organizations successfully in the dynamic environment of business world. The aim of such strategy is to see an organization succeed and realize its goals while at the same time being able to survive and realize meaningful growth (Mathis and Jackson, 2010). Realizing and accepting this to be important and vital to the organization, modern-day organizations are characterized by formation of strategic plans.

In simple view, strategic plans are designed on the aim of utilizing the organization’s available resources in such a way that the organization is able to outperform its main competitors in the industry (Mathis and Jackson, 2010). Wheelen and Hunger (1995) provides a definition of strategic planning/management as “that set of managerial decisions and actions that determines the long-run performance of a corporation” (Bratton and Gold, 2001, p.39).

Given that in strategic planning there is long-term consideration, the concept can be taken to constitute all activities that have ‘vision of the future’ and at same time are updated constantly on both internal and the external environment (Bratton and Gold, 2001).

As a long as the operations and activities of an organization have to continue with an indefinite time, strategic management should constitute a continuous activity that an organization’s management team undertake. Moreover, as the process takes place, the management should encourage some forms of adjustments but all ingrained within the aspects of: management, environment, and the available resources (Bratton and Gold, 2001).

Strategic planning depends and gets enormous input from possessing the right human resource in the organization. The right human resource to be utilized in the strategic planning process may be present or the organization may need to outsource them from outside.

This entire process has resulted to what is known as strategic human resource (SHRM) in many organizations. SHRM has being described as the process that “entails providing input into organizational strategic planning and developing specific human resource initiatives to help achieve the organizational goals” (Mathis and Jackson, 2010, p.38).

Michael Armstrong, writing in a book titled ‘Strategic Human Resource Management: Guide to Action’ defines SHRM in the perspectives of organization’s strategic planning (Armstrong, 2008). According to the author, SHRM entails “an approach to the development and implementation of human resource strategies that are integrated with business strategies and enable the organization to achieve its goals” (Armstrong, 2008, p.1).

According to this definition, SHRM is a long-term process that largely succeeds on evaluating organization’s strategies and human resource strategies and how well the two categories of strategies can be merged to achieve organization goals.

SHRM as a concept cannot be divorced from the overall strategy that an organization envisions to undertake. In this way, SHRM is seen to be intertwined to the strategic objectives of an organization. Due to this, strategic human resource management has to emphasize the need for human resource plans and strategies to be formulated within the context of overall organizational strategies and objectives that are further, responsive to the changing nature of the organization’s external environment (Ojo, 2011).

This line of understanding leads to Wright and McMahan (1992) define SHRM as “the pattern of planned human resource deployments and activities intended to enable the firm to achieve its goals” (Ojo, 2011).

As such, the role of SHRM is seen to constitute all aspects that contribute to organizational performance in achieving organizational goals and objectives. The themes of SHRM have been categorized into three: process of integration all human resource key practices into a comprehensive and functional unit; an aspect of incorporating and utilizing broad organizational goals; and lastly, responding to the external environment in the most strategic and effective way (Ojo, 2011).

In this way, SHRM can be described as a comprehensive framework of human resource that constitute process of evaluating the impacts of external and internal environments and instituting the appropriate human resource measures in terms of strategy to enable sustainable adaptation of the organization.

Organization functions and carries out its activities dependent on goodwill of its stakeholders. Multiple stakeholders of an organization exist and their role in the organization defines the success, growth, and sustainability of the organization. Some of notable organizational stakeholders include the investors, organization itself, in terms of management team, employees, customers and suppliers (Schuler and Jackson, 2007).

Each of these stakeholders affects and influences an organization in one way or the other. Human resource practices have been identified to affect all these stakeholders either directly or indirectly (Schuler and Jackson, 2007). As a result, strategic planning in the organization has the ability to impact the stakeholders differently. In turn, the stakeholder may undertake initiatives of evaluating the different human resource practices in accordance to their outcome.

SHRM builds on the need to create human resource strategies that exhibit capacity to satisfy multiple stakeholders of the organization. In this way, there is always need to create SHRM practices and strategies that address the concerns of key stakeholders in the organization (Schuler and Jackson, 2007).

Investors constitute the first category of organizational stakeholders. Investors constitute all groups of people who have channeled their resources into the organization with intend of realizing positive returns on those resources. Positive returns generally come in form of profits and dividends that investors enjoy.

As a result, introduction of SHRM practices in an organization usually has the blessing of investors since it is viewed to change the current operations in the organization and improve financial performance of the organization. Organization’s employees constitute another category of stakeholders of an organization (Deckop and Deckop, 2006).

Numerous researches have been carried out on the implication of various human resource practices on employees in different organizations (Deckop and Deckop, 2006). Human resource practices that may impact employees include recruitment and selection, training and development and performance management (Deckop and Deckop, 2006).

The aim of the research on these practices has been to evaluate the impact of the practices on individual outcomes. At the same time, more research has been done on the impact of practices on employee outcome such as on job satisfaction, motivation, socialization and career success (Deckop and Deckop, 2006).

Therefore, introduction of strategies of human resource management in most cases impact employees to great length. The third type of organizational stakeholder is the consumer, usually known as product-market stakeholder (Deckop and Deckop, 2006). Activities of any organization always aim at achieving customer satisfaction with regard to organization’s products or services (Deckop and Deckop, 2006).

As a result, customer satisfaction is seen as a mediating variable between human resource practices and business performance. In introducing SHRM practices an organization aims at changing the dimension of work climate that in turn lead to customer satisfaction through customer orientation, quality emphasis, teamwork, cooperation, and involvement of customers in product designs (Deckop and Deckop, 2006).

Evaluation of SHRM practices in an organization has to consider the impact of the SHRM system on all of the organization’s multiple stakeholders (Schuler and Jackson, 2007). Creating SHRM practices aims at introducing changes in the manner activities are performed in the organization. As a result effectiveness of such practices and systems are measured on objectives such as improvement in productivity, improvement in profitability, and the ability of the organization to sustain in the future (Schuler and Jackson, 2007).

On the part of employees, effectiveness of SHRM practices normally depends on total quality of the practices on the work within the organization, the innovativeness of the practices in contributing to realization of goals in the organization, ability of the practices to contribute to job satisfaction, enhancement, and enrichment (Schuler and Jackson, 2007). At the same time, employees have been regard as key resources of an organization in ensuring the success of any SHRM system.

In this way, the effectiveness of SHRM can be evaluated on the level of commitment and engagement by employees and overall satisfaction of employees (Schuler and Jackson, 2007). On the part of customers, evaluation of SHRM system put into consideration aspects such as quality and variety of products introduced in the market, the prices at which the products are being sold and overall services that accompany the products (Schuler and Jackson, 2007).

Human resource being one of the core components of an organization has to be re-organized and re-aligned to the new developments taking place. Re-organization and re-alignment in the modern world cannot take place within traditional and usual frameworks of human resource management.

Today there is need for strategic planning solutions that can guarantee organizations success. As a result, strategic human resource management (SHRM) is a concept that defines modern organizations that aim to realize organizational goals and objectives through strategic planning of its human resource. Introduction of SHRM systems in an organization is a path that sees ability of an organization to effectively compete in the dynamic environment and sustainability while remaining focused to the goals and objectives of stakeholders.

Armstrong, M. (2008). Strategic Human Resource Management: A Guide to Action . PA: Kogan Page Publishers. Web.

Bratton, J. and Gold, J. (2001). Human resource management: theory and practice . NY: Routledge. Web.

Deckop, J. R. and Deckop, J. R. (2006). Human resource management ethics . NY: Information Age Publishing. Web.

Mathis, R. L. and Jackson, J. H. (2010). Human Resource Management . OH: Cengage Learning. Web.

Ojo, O. (2011). “Impact of strategic human resource practice on corporate performance in selected Nigerian banks.” Journal of Ege Akademik Bakis, Vol. 11, No. 3, p.339. Web.

Schuler, R. S. and Jackson, S. E. (2007). Strategic human resource management . MA: Wiley-Blackwell. Web.

Yuksel, M. (2011). “Core competencies of managers in an emerging market”. Journal of American Academy of Business, Vol. 17, No. 1, p.104. Web.

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Human Resources Essay for A+ Student Guide

• Essay Writing Guides

Students of management departments frequently face the need to compose a Human Resources essay because they need to learn to manage both people and processes. Thus, if you’re a student of this specialty, you will face the need to compose a Human Resources school essay sooner or later. Here we explain what an HR essay is, what format you should keep to, how you can complete such a paper quickly and efficiently, and what topics are trending now in the sphere of HRM.

If you’re wondering how to write a Human Resources essay, read on to find all the details here. Experts of our essay writing service team have prepared a guide for newbies to instruct you on all the writing steps. Still, if you feel unable to compose this work independently, it’s probably a good idea to hire a skilled Human Resources essay writer from our team.

Don’t hesitate to contact us and get a well-written, properly structured, and polished paper deserving an A; we’ve got you covered and can help you with any academic emergency you might experience at an HR course. You can easily place an “ do my assignment ” order on our website and get an expert with years of industry-specific expertise assigned to your project in minutes.

Human Resources Essay Format

When discussing the Human Resources essay format, you need to keep in mind that it’s still an essay, differing from other works of this type only by the topic. However, all essays follow the same format and structuring, knowing which can help you complete such a paper hassle-free. You can see this universal structure in many Human Resources school essay examples available online.

Let’s recap the basic essay structure in relation to the HR specialization.

Introduction

The introductory part of your Human Resources plan essay should include a discussion of your area of focus. HRM is a broad sphere of professional practice and research interest, so you need to find a subtopic within that area and explain it to the readers. After describing the context, you need to specify the problem you’re going to explore and end the introductory section with a concise thesis statement.

The body of your essay should focus on the arguments you’ve elicited when researching the chosen topic. As you might see in any Human Resources essay example, the body is typically divided into paragraphs, each of which is dedicated to one specific argument. Follow this structure as well to enhance your essay’s readability and make it coherent.

A conclusion is the final part of any Human Resources essay writing process. You can’t do without a brief and precise summary of your content. You also need to revisit your thesis statement and explain how your knowledge progressed throughout this paper’s writing. A strong finale of any essay is a reference to the broader context and explanation of how your research informs the broader HRM field.

Write Human Resources Essay in 5 Steps

When it comes to essay writing, Human Resources is not that challenging. The only thing you need to remember is that following an explicit, understandable research and writing algorithm makes the task much more manageable.

Here’s the algorithm our pros recommend to students regardless of their level of expertise:

• Select a topic that speaks to you. It should be exciting and relatively new so that you can advance your knowledge and derive pleasure from examining a subject of your personal interest.
• Be clear about the outcome of your essay; you need to know what goals you’re trying to achieve, developing your content according to the predetermined scenario.
• Research the subject to collect reliable, valuable evidence on the subject.
• Produce an outline to have a roadmap and stay on topic during the whole writing process.
• Record all sources you have used in content creation and reference them correctly to avoid plagiarism accusations.

Need expert help with your essays, but also want to save some money?

Human Resources Essay Topics

Topic selection is one of the most widespread challenges students face when approaching an HR essay task. To help you cover this step quickly, writers of our essay service have formulated a handy list of Human Resources essay topics.

• How well are equal employment opportunities provided in the 21st century?
• HR planning and retention: implications for the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Essentials of strategic HR management.
• Has the traditional HR management survived the coronavirus pandemic?
• Key steps of job analysis.
• Training human resources in the conditions of remote work.
• Risk management techniques in the HR field.
• Different approaches to calculating paid leave.
• Workplace techniques for interpersonal conflict resolution.
• The role of HR in the company’s preservation of competitive advantage in the global market.
• Determining the right mix of monetary and non-monetary rewards for staff.
• The role of personality traits in team composition.
• Agile approaches to HRM.
• Modern techniques and approaches to international staff management.
• A goal-oriented approach to staff productivity and morale improvement.
• A variety of workplace violence manifestations.
• Implications of psychological counseling provision to employees in the workplace.
• Presence of gender disparities in work terms and pay.
• Various faces of workplace discrimination: examining the causes and responses to those incidents.
• What are the best methods of complying with the equal employment opportunity legislation?
• Managing diversity in the workplace: 21st-century implications.
• Leadership training and promotion among staff.
• The strategic benefits of in-house leadership training for business performance.
• New talent acquisition: innovative techniques and approaches.
• An ideal employee profile for SMEs.
• Experience vs. talent in new employee recruitment.
• The role of HR in fostering compliance with COVID-19 rules.
• Contribution of HR to compliance with health and safety recommendations.
• What steps can HR managers take to identify, manage, and prevent employee burnout?
• HR strategies directed at long-term staff retention.
• The contribution of AI to HR activities and functions.
• Is virtual onboarding as effective as offline one?
• Should businesses pay for their staff’s education?
• Soft vs. hard skills’ consideration in the recruitment process.
• Different approaches to compensation package design.

How to Start a Human Resources Essay

The final point we’d like to discuss here is the art of starting a Human Resources essay. It’s essential to give your essay a good start; otherwise, you may spend much more time on its composition than you initially planned, thus wasting the vital free time or the hours you previously allocated for other assignments. Here are the principles of a quick, easy essay start:

• Choose the right topic to simplify the writing process.

It should be relevant to your class material, engaging, and new to a certain degree. Expand your existing knowledge instead of trying to explore something entirely new for you.

• Research the subject extensively.

Don’t start writing before you’re sure that you have enough material for the whole paper. Students often get stuck in the middle of their essays because they haven’t conducted thorough research from the very beginning.

• Use practical examples.

HR is an applied sphere of human activity, so you can never produce a high-quality paper without referring to real-life evidence.

It’s also vital to choose argumentative Human Resources essay topics, as they are sure to give you more ideas and avenues for proving your standpoint and examining various evidence from multiple angles.

The paper  “Top Paint Limited – Theoretical Vis-a-Vis Practical Aspects of HR Factors” is an intriguing example of human resources case study. This paper is an evaluation of Human Resource (HR) faced by Top Paints Limited (TPL). This evaluation involves the evaluation of theoretical vis-a-vis practical aspects of HR factors.

Performance Management

The purpose of managing employee performance is not only to improve productivity. It is also to ensure that the employees find their work environment (e.g. in terms of culture, policies, style, systems of communication, etc) tolerable (Shore & Strauss, 600). The premise here is that if an employee finds the working environment to be in conflict with his/her career and other related expectations, then his/her performance is affected from the start, and no performance management strategies can help him/her. Besides specific strategies to boost the performance of the existing workforce, the first and most important performance management tool is strategic recruitment and selection.

The contemporary organization/company places emphasis on the organizational culture. This has led to the need for besides a written contract- psychological contract, i.e. an unwritten (psychological) understanding of the expectations that both the employee and employer have of each other, and that both parties will reciprocate each other’s efforts (Bratton & Gold 278). This is part of managing employee behavior. The premise here is that it is only those employees whose expectations are within the scope of the organizational culture and expectations who will have the right motivation for good performance.

What this implies is that the role and level of performance are not only in the hands of the employees. In fact, how employees perform primarily depends on whether the organizational structure and culture, as reflected in its leadership, helps it (Bratton & Gold 279). TPL’s structure, i.e. the traditional approach to command and control is a major impediment to employee freedom, creativity, motivation, and ultimately, performance. And while the organization uses performance appraisal for measuring employee performance, measurability being a major aspect of performance, it is not taken seriously. Instead, it is a mere routine.

Reward Management

The reward can be both monetary and non-monetary (e.g. psychological reward, the satisfaction of challenge, etc) (Bratton & Gold, 278). Indeed, reward management is a key tool for facilitating sound competition between employees, boosting employee motivation, and ultimately improving performance. Therefore, reward, as a tool for performance management, encourages and enhances positive employee attitudes and behaviors and financial gains.

TPL has established a reward system for its employees. This is especially through career development, e.g. promotion, and annual pay increment. Both of these are monetary forms of reward. For instance, promotion comes with a pay increase. Unfortunately, there are two key implications here. One, TPL does not seem to recognize the fact that, as Bratton and Gold (279) put it, financial rewards have bearing on cost-effectiveness and financial profitability. In other words, rewards mean expenditure. TPL’s profits have been on the decline for ten years so that the recent failure to make profits has or should have been anticipated. Yet the company still sticks by its monetary reward system, thereby adding more pressure to its already declining finances. This first implication leads to another, i.e. TPL has overlooked other reward methods and systems. In another word, it has failed to recognize that financial rewards are merely ‘superficial’ and must be accompanied by other rewards systems.

But all this equally raises one big question: if the company has been on the decline, then what has it been rewarding its employees for? Even further, why has the organization not realized that its rewards are not resulting in the reasons for which rewards are given?  This is not to say that the company should not reward its employees. Instead, it should also consider non-monetary rewards, .e. g. psychological contract through encouraging employee freedom and creativity. Equally, the company should recognize that rewards are not the only tools for improving employee performance. This must work in conjunction with other organizational and management elements. However, all this depends on the HRM.

Human Resource Development

This refers to strategic efforts by a company’s Human Resource Management (HRM) (Bratton & Gold 279; Torrington et al 599) to develop its workforce in line with its key business strategies. In other words, it involves strategic recruitment and selection of employees who will enhance a company’s chances of reaching its goals and objectives. The first step towards strategic human resources development, therefore, is to identify the strategies to be undertaken. Identifying strategies depends on proper study and understanding of both the internal and external organizational environment.

TPL, to begin with, seems to lack any key strategy. The company controls the whole value chain of its products all the way from inception to manufacturing and delivery. Considering the company’s financial troubles, it should be clear that this control is overwhelming for its capacity. In other words, it is about time that the company gave up some of its control(s) to other parties, e.g. distribution to other wholesalers and retailers. This would help it focus its workforce on specific strategies. This would facilitate the company’s strategic recruitment and selection, and retention of employees.

Part of strategic HRD is training. It is clear that the problem here is the approach used. While the company encourages training, it focuses mainly on a theoretical approach, i.e. the training does not subject employees to one-on-one interaction with job practicalities. In other words, employees lack on-the-job experience.

Equality and Diversity

Equality and diversity are part of strategic HRD. The external environment, unlike TPL’s internal environment, is made of a diverse population: men and women, young and old, able-bodied and disabled, people from various ethnicities, including minority groups, etc. Winning a competitive advantage in a diverse marketplace requires an equally diverse workplace (Kirton & Greene, 7). Unfortunately, TPL has failed in this. The company has fewer employees from minority groups and women. While some of these are in the technical and managerial levels, the company has provided and encouraged their career progress. Further, the whole Board of Directors is composed of white males, as are other senior managers.

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The paper  “Human Resource Development at Top Paint Limited” is an apposite example of human resources case study. The problems facing Top Paints Limited can be addressed by focusing on the root cause of the problems facing the individual employees. Statistics indicate that the company’s workforce is paralyzed and is characterized by such symptoms as low productivity, poor working relationships, and low morale. The decline in the company’s performance stems from the problems facing the workforce which would call for a change in the company’s HR policies for the company to regain its strength. This paper will refer to human resource theories and practices to help address the problems facing the company. Four areas of HR policy and practices will be evaluated: performance management, human resource development, and reward management.

Performance management

Performance management is an ongoing process in which an organization identifies, measures,s and develops the output or performance of individuals or teams and later compares this with the goals set by the organization. Performance management arises from the complexities arising from the world of business (Mabey, Salaman & Storey, 1999). Several models of performance management have been adopted but there is no one universally accepted model. Mabey, Salaman, and Storey (1999) argue that any model of performance management should include these elements:

• Feedback of performance results
• Setting objectives
• Amendments to activities and objectives
• Reward system based on performance outcomes
• Measuring of performance

The goal-setting theory was proposed by Edwin Locke (1968). According to this theory, individual goals that are established by an employee perform crucial roles in motivating the employee to have increased performance (Salaman, Storey & Billsberry, 2005). This assumption arises from the fact that the employees keep monitoring their goals; failure to achieve these goals call for the employee to increase their performance or adjust their goals so that they become real. The end result of setting the goal is thus to improve the employees’ performance.

According to expectancy theory, employees in an organization will adjust their behaviors based on the anticipated satisfaction of the goals they have set. As such, individuals will adjust their behaviors in a manner that will lead them to attain their goals. Employees of the TPL seem not to have these theories in mind since the company has employed a command and control management approach. As such, the employees cannot show their capabilities since they work under the instructions of their superior.

To address the problem, TPL should implement a performance management system instead of the command and control approach.

The system can work well if the employees are provided an opportunity to set their goals as per the company requirement. The employees should be allowed to work freely as long as they are able to achieve these goals; this can be determined by measuring the performance (Mabey, Salaman & Storey, 1999). Further, the performance management system should clearly set the rewards that an employee can get based on the expected outcome as mentioned in the expectancy theory; this helps to motivate the employee.

Reward management

This entails developing, maintaining, and establishing a system whose main aim is to reward employees within a firm or a business. This system provides a fair and equitable way of appreciating the values of the employees whose output to the organization is considered valuable. Various theories have been formulated in the field of human resources to address the issue of reward management. An example of such theories is motivation theory which calls for the motivation of employees for them to be beneficial or more productive to an organization. Salaman, Storey, and Billsberry (2005) consider the reward to be either monetary or non-monetary.

Victor Vroom’s theory referred to as “Vroom’s Valence x Expectancy Theory” better helps to understand the relationship between reward and motivation. According to Gellman (2009), this theory entails the mental process involved in the choices made by an employee. According to this theory, there is a direct relationship between the predisposition to act in a certain manner and the strength of the expectations or rewards that may come as a result of the act (Gellman, 2009). When the employees are assured that there is a better performance appraisal, they are motivated to improve their performance (Salaman, Storey & Billsberry, 2005). For employees to be motivated, this theory sets three conditions that must be met: additional effort would result in better performance, the well-done job should be associated with rewards like pay-rise or bonuses, rewards provided should be satisfactory to the employee.

TPL has not been able to retain its employees since it does not motivate the able employees to stay. To address this problem, the company should have a reward system through bonuses whenever performance is improved. The current company’s pay system is very inflexible since the salary is increased on yearly basis regardless of personal or company performance. With the current pay system, the employees do not need to work extra harder as they are not guaranteed any rewards. TPL should thus introduce a flexible reward system so that it can motivate the employee and retain them instead of losing and recruiting new ones.

Equity and diversity

Workforce diversity entails the inclusion of all types of persons in corporate performance. Today, many organizations view diversity as a competitive advantage which gives rise to economic advantage to the organization when incorporated into the strategic business goals (Bratton & Gold, 2003). In many countries, workforce diversity is streamlined in the policy and the legal framework that provides provisions for anti-discrimination cases (Thompson, 2003). According to Dickens (1999), diversity is the variety of cultural and social identities among people in a common employment setting. Various cultural and social attributes determine diversity: gender, race, education, beliefs, religion, age, disability among others. Various approaches can be employed in managing diversity. One such approach is the mainstream approach that refers to self-categorization and the self-identity theories. The self-identity theory entails group membership and behaviors. On the other hand, the self-categorization theory entails how individuals stereotype their attitudes and behaviors so that they can associate themselves with particular groups. These theories help to avoid any group conflict that may have a negative impact on workplace performance (Bratton & Gold, 2003).

TPL has failed to address the issue of equality and diversity since there are few women and people from ethnic minorities. Further, this group of employees does not progress in terms of promotion even when they are the very-able. For TPL to progress, there is a need for the company to create equal opportunities for all the employees. Failure to create such an opportunity for the minority people, disabled, and women would make them feel discriminated and thus their output is affected.

Human resource development

The concept of human resource development is considered as a theory that aims at developing human capital by developing the individual and the organization to improve their performances (Wang, 2004). Human resource capacities can be developed through further education. This can be done through career development and training. The outcome of HRD has increased competencies which ensure that current and future jobs are performed effectively (Wang, 2004).

TPL has been training its staff on how to carry out their functions whenever new roles and new technologies are introduced. It is thus expected that the accident rate below and performance should be improved. However, this is not the case since most training is done off-site. To avoid the problem, TPL’s consultant should train the employees at the site in order to improve efficiency. A paradigm shift from off-site to on-site would thus yield positive results towards improved performance since the employee would acquire real practical knowledge.

The paper  “The Human Resource Management  Difficulties Experienced by Top Paint Limited” is a dramatic example of human resources case study. Top Paints Limited (TPL) has been facing many challenges. It has experienced a steady decline from a relevant strong position ten years ago where it made no profit this year for the first time ever. The entire workforce in TPL has been creating a lot of dissatisfaction, which has led to low morale, low productivity, and poor relationships at work. This has also resulted in an increase in absenteeism, product complaints, and service complaints. Thus, this shows a flawed human resource activity in TPL and there is a need to give priority in the following areas to find a lasting solution to these problems in TPL; performance management, reward management, human resource development, and equality and diversity.

The employees in TPL lack the opportunity to be initiative since the top-level management is always acting on instructions. This shows a lack of cooperation between the employees and the top management that in turn reduced their morale in working and in turn reducing their productivity. This calls for the employment of management processes in order to manage individuals in an effective manner with an aim of achieving high levels in the performance of the organization. There is a need to close the gap between management and employees by establishing a shared understanding to develop a strong workforce for the achievement of TPL’s goals. As the employees have developed negative attitudes between them and management, individuals need to be guided in order to feel that work satisfying, fulfilling, and capable of development in any way. This can be supported by the application of the goal-setting theory in order to link the performance of the tasks with goal setting. Because the entire company seems to have lost its main objective, there is a need to set specific goals that are challenging in addition to appropriate feedback in order to come up with better performance. This will give the employees a path or a direction to follow on the needs to be done and the efforts required to achieve the goal. This will be achieved if the employees are also given the opportunities to be initiative. The main source of motivation for the job will be the willingness of the employees to freely work towards the achievement of goals. If the employees will be provided with clear and specific goals in addition to being open to their comments on work. With the provision of challenging and realistic goals, the employees will have the reason to work and feel proud and as triumphant as they achieve the goals. Another important thing that failed to work in TPL is the provision of appropriate feedback on employee’s performance. Feedback will be essential as a way of making clarifications, regulating difficulties in goals, gaining a reputation in a way that the involvement of the employees will lead to job satisfaction and being more productive. On the other hand, the managers should ensure that they should interact and behave in a way that promotes and allows better relationships in work. They should also be able to gauge themselves according to output such that, if the job is interesting, the performance should also be better (Armstrong, 1998)

From the case study, it is clear that the salaries earned by the employees are flat. The pay spine is very inflexible such that the talented people end up looking for greener pastures in better-paying companies while the less competitive are left due to lack of any other option. This leads to low productivity and low performance. In addition, there is no reward in case of any improvement in performance. Due to this, there is a need for a reward management process that will involve the development and implementation of the company’s strategies and policies. This will enable the firm to achieve its objectives as well as retaining its competitive employees in accordance with the needs of the employees through increasing their commitment and motivation. If the employees will be rewarded according to their value and their potential contributions to the company, they will feel comfortable working in a firm that recognizes their efforts. The management must also recognize each employee’s capability and set goals that match with their intuitiveness (Armstrong, 495). This can be supported by a broad banding structure or system that shows that the progress of employees is more dependent on improvement than promotion, the flexibility of the system, putting decisions on managers’ hands so that they have more responsibility towards the staff and finally employees increase their incentives in achieving their goals. This means that the success of the organization is dependent on the recognition of the efforts of each employee through rewards that later lead to more efforts and profitability (Stredwick, 13).

Although TPL carries through training of its staff, there are still complaints and accidents due to repetition of mistakes. In addition, there is hostility and disbelief in case one tries to bring change or being initiative. In this case, human resources development is very essential, as the success of TPL will depend on the management of the workforce. Thus, there is a need to develop strategies that will ensure an increase in manufacturing and gaining a competitive advantage through proper management and development of employees to be more productive. This is enhanced through the development of strategies based on informed decisions and the involvement of the employees. TPL needs also to develop a policy on recruitment and selection to ensure the selection of a competitive and diverse workforce (Beardwell, 197).

This is supported by classical approach theory, which ensures that the strategy process will involve a comprehensive understanding of the internal and external environment, selecting on strategic choices and implementation of the plans, and ensuring management decisions flow from top to down ensuring the involvement of all levels. This makes the employees initiative thus increasing the productivity and performance (Miller, 148).

Equality and diversity

This is also a major problem in TPL as there are very few ethnic minorities and women and the few that are recruited later resign. This shows a lack of comfort for the minorities in working in the TPL environment. Thus, management needs to ensure that everyone is treated the same as well as recognizing that various groups and individuals are different. To do this, the company must be flexible and observe uniformity in addressing the needs of its employees in order to change its culture. This is enhanced by making sure that the working environment will support women and ethnic minorities by totally involving them in decision-making. It is also important to consider the development of a new policy in recruitment that promotes diversity and equality. This is supported by a short approach that is similar to a liberal approach wherein advocates for the elimination of bias on sex in the practice of human resource management, increasing opportunities for women and minorities in management and technical fields, and being flexible in terms and conditions (Noon, 226).

The difficulties experienced by TPL can be associated with poor work relationships, lack of recognition of efforts made by staff, criticism, between management and employees and poor culture of the firm, and the entire management of the activities in the firm that has led to low productivity and lack of profits. These issues are addressed through performance management, equity and diversity, reward management, and human resource development. This will result in better utilization of human resources, a wide customer base, wider and competitive recruitment of labor, and a positive image of the company.

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Human Resource Management: Theory and Practice, Essay Example

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Introduction

Human resources management (HRM) emerged together with the need to operate large numbers of workforce and fit the demands of the most valuable corporate assets, the employees, with the company objectives, and to ensure adequate conditions for workers of various kinds, types and categories. The HRM field reflects the major part of people management, i.e. coordination of all policies, processes and practices connected with managing people currently employed in a certain organization. The HRM has faced much criticism currently, and is even considered to be the barrier in building the flexible and supportive environment in an organization, acting as a restrictive tool for reducing payroll and contributing to the employee turnover (Mathis and Jackson 4).

Indeed, at times the activities of HRM executives seem to be more directed at activities than results; nonetheless, the importance of human resources and effective management thereof has long ago been recognized as a vital element of successful competition in the market. More than that, HRM is fairly considered to be one of the companies’ core competencies, under the condition of good coordination and organization (Mathis and Jackson 4). HRM also helps the company find the proper balance in the realm of legal requirements restraining  the work of organizations and protecting employees; it ensures compensation reconsiderations according to the employee performance, and serves as a driving force for employee motivation in performance increases.

The significance of HRM has been recognized as soon as the inner processes governing the activity of any organization have been detected. It is obvious that any organization has a set of assets it manages in the process of its activity: they include physical, financial, intangible, and human resources. Nonetheless, even being equal in row with other resources, the human resources really make the activity of any company work; they represent the ‘glue’ that combines and coordinates the resources, making them bring profit for the company. Logically, one should realize that there is no way to keep the company functioning without human resources, and even under the condition of poor functioning thereof (Mathis and Jackson 4). Proper HRM can help the company save considerable costs for recruiting and retraining, talent detection may help it educate its own leaders and managers etc. – there are numerous examples of the way HRM may benefit a company. They explain the current close attention to HRM and outline the main areas of research in the field of its improvement and successful implementation.

The modern focus on HRM and its implementation in business structures is explained by the wish to establish fast and responsive organizations that can quickly handle the changes in the external and internal environment. The HRM provides the company with the ability to recruit, train and retain employees, and to align their activities with corporate objectives. The traditional, isolated approach to HRM is no longer used, with the organization giving additional responsibilities and powers to HR managers in the overall struggle for better performance of the whole business unit.

Before defining the concept of ‘human resources management’, one has to track its evolution from the term ‘personnel management’ that emerged in the 20 th century to denote the response of employees to public policies and union activities and changed gradually under the pressure of the global change, socio-economic changes and tendencies etc. (Bratton and Gold 6). The full definition of the HRM concept looks as follows:

“That part of the management process that specializes in the management of people in work organizations. HRM emphasizes that employees are critical to achieving sustainable competitive advantage, that human resources practices need to be integrated with the corporate strategy, and that human resource specialists help organizational controllers to meet both efficiency and equity objectives” (Bratton and Gold 11).

However, even upon seeing the definition, one still may not have a clear idea of what management really stands for in the described situation, and what human resources mean in the given context. The human resources actually mean the human capital that represents one of the company’s assets (alongside with the physical, financial and intangible ones) (Mathis and Jackson 5). The human capital is viewed in the collection of all capabilities, knowledge, skills, life experience, motivation etc. that employees of a certain organization possess. Hence, management thereof refers to the proper distribution of positions, adequate rewards corresponding to the employee performance, training and staffing etc. Consequently, one may understand the definition as a way to manage the human capital in the most productive and efficient way so that the company could enhance its core competencies and ensure a firmer position in the marketplace.

Features and Characteristics of HRM

There is a set of features defining the nature of HRM and its place within the organizational framework. The first feature refers to knowledge management; it pertains to any aspect of creating, obtaining, sharing and utilizing knowledge of any kind (Armstrong 9). The key role of HRM concerning knowledge is to conduct activities to develop, generate, and preserve any knowledge specific for the needs of the company. It is also essential to note that knowledge in the focus of HRM derives from organizational learning processes (Armstrong 9).

The next feature is reward management; it results directly from the incentive of HRM professionals to increase motivation, job management, and commitment of employees towards their company. These practices can be achieved by introducing policies of showing that employees are valued and rewarded according to their performance (Armstrong 9). It is essential to implement various reward instruments and schemes so that they would suit the whole range of competencies and skills of the company’s staff. In addition, the successful HRM strategy should not focus on restrictive sanctions for employees who fall behind in their performance; instead, it should emphasize strengths and promote potentially creative and committed individuals.

Fostering constructive and supportive employee relations is another feature of HRM. Promoting the working climate with productive and harmonious relationships is made possible through positive partnership between management and workplace (Armstrong 9). Trade unions are also involved in the employee relations to ensure the comprehensive effect of HRM in building the coherent and mutually satisfied employee structure. The main challenge of this process is in the next feature of HRM: meeting diverse needs of all company stakeholders (Armstrong 10). Individual and group needs have to be taken into account to design equal opportunities for all employees disregarding the peculiarities of their working style, aspirations, and capabilities.

Finally, the HRM feature is bridging the gap between rhetoric and reality. The company’s mission and vision, HR strategy and corporate responsibility are laid down in all written codes and regulations of the company, annual reports and presentations for shareholders. However, as soon as the planned HR practices are implemented, a number of barriers (including limited support, inadequate infrastructure, lack of resources etc.) preclude those strategies from being successfully introduced. Hence, the ability of HRM nowadays is in identifying such gaps and allocating proper resources for making HR strategies a commonplace organizational reality (Armstrong 10).

Drawing certain conclusions from the discussed HRM features, one can come to understanding the key HRM characteristics shaping its modern image and structure. They are as follows:

diverse (it is essential to encourage diversity in HRM practices because of the integrated, comprehensive and over-grasping focus of HRM aimed at creating a harmonious, homogeneous, and at the same time individually tailored structure of employee relationships with management) (Armstrong 9):

• strategically focused, with emphasis on integration (there is no place for an isolated approach anymore; HRM is embedded in all aspects of corporate functioning, striving to the creation of a coherent, interlinked employee system) (Armstrong 9);
• oriented on commitment (only under the condition of employee trust and loyalty towards the company, HRM can achieve the stipulated corporate goals and make the human resources act as a unifying and enacting force for other company assets) (Armstrong 9);
• HRM is based on the belief that working individuals should be treated as assets, i.e. the human capital (in other way common HRM strategies and assessment tools would not work) (Armstrong 9);
• unitarist and individualistic approach towards employee relations (the workforce should act as a unified, congruent force, but at the same time individual needs, wants, aspirations and ambitions should be taken into account and encouraged to ensure corporate growth and accumulation of intelligence and knowledge) (Armstrong 9);
• management-driven (HRM is seen as a line management responsibility, changing the nature of HRM delivery) (Armstrong 10);
• focused on business values (human resources are nurtured, developed and managed, but always with the proper respect to the company objectives; the HRM should always be consistent with business objectives) (Armstrong 10).

There are a large number of specific and general goals pursued by modern HRM, but considerable research and review have allowed to focus on the twelve dominant policy goals proposed by Caldwell (2004) and cited in Armstrong:

• People constituting an organizational workforce should be treated as the asset crucial for the creation of the competitive advantage for the company in the marketplace. The essence of the goal is to gain the competitive level of performance for the company to become a strong contender with a firm position in the market; it is vital to realize that even under the condition of having plentiful resources of other kind, the company will never achieve success because of the inability to utilize the resources. Without the workforce, there will be no tools for operating and manipulating the company’s resources for the sake of economic profit. Hence, the human capital is the most essential asset possessed by the company, and it has to be treated accordingly (Armstrong 10).
• The HRM policies have to be aligned with the business policies and corporate strategy of every given company. This goal explains the very purpose of HRM existence – through the effective and thoughtful management of the company’s human capital, the HRM department assists the company in gaining the competitive advantage in the market and increasing the employee performance through commitment and encouragement of creativity (Armstrong 10).
• The HRM system is aimed at developing a close fit of HR policies, procedures and systems with one another. Only under the condition of the close connection and alignment of all HR elements within the organizational structure, the successful implementation of HRM principles becomes possible and potentially profitable for the company (Armstrong 10).
• The HRM is responsible for creating a flatter and more flexible organization. The ultimate goal of that effort is to make the company more responsive to the changes of the internal and external business environment. The modern business world is characterized by a high level of turbulence and uncertainty, crises in all spheres of human activity, hence only the affluent and flexible business entities can survive in the harsh atmosphere of making business. The HRM effort can make the company stronger from the inside and reinforce its outer strengths (Armstrong 10).
• The HRM should encourage teamwork and cooperation inside the organization. The specific advantage of such efforts can be seen in the strengthening of the employee interconnection, mutual support and emotional intelligence (Armstrong 10).
• The creation of a strong customer-first philosophy throughout the organization is another policy goal of HRM; the main focus of HRM is driven on the individually correct but still corporately shaped system of employee management, training and rewarding. The employees have to realize their value for the company to be able to provide their respect and commitment to the customer in turn (Armstrong 10).
• Employees have to be empowered for self-management, learning and development. HRM creates the basis for corporate leadership programs to educate the company’s leaders, professionals and inspirers instead of hiring them from outside (Armstrong 10).
• HRM should develop rewarding strategies directly tied to employee performance. Despite the commonly known criticism of the approach, financial incentives still remain a powerful driving force in the increase of performance and commitment (Armstrong 11).
• Internal communication improvement is the goal for HRM effort because of its importance for employee involvement in the company issues. The better the employees are informed about the internal matters of their company, the more trusting their relationships with the employer are, and the higher the commitment is (Armstrong 11).
• A more general HRM is in building the greater employee commitment; it can be achieved by additional means other than financial ones, including strengthening the corporate culture, involving employees in extra-work events and promoting various activities exploring the employees’ talents, ambitions and abilities (Armstrong 11).
• Increasing line management responsibility for the HR policies is another major goal of HRM; as it has been already mentioned, HRM is growing in its importance and grasps others areas of company functioning. Therefore, HRM is equal in responsibilities with line management, providing more ties and interconnections between the internal aspects of management (Armstrong 11).
• Finally, HRM should empower managers in the role of enablers. This refers both to the allocation of financial resources for solving some urgent business matters, and to the empowerment of capable employees offering their potential and creativity to the company (Armstrong 11).

Strategic HRM

Strategic HRM is substantially different from the RHM process itself because it focuses mainly on the activities affecting the behavior of individuals in an effort to formulate and introduce strategic needs of the business (Armstrong and Baron 41). Hence, one can understand that the strategic HRM reflects not the real-time, but the future intentions of the organization regarding the HRM organization, procedures and policies. It includes the long-term people issues, defining the HR strategies that have to be identified for the future effort of the HRM department. In addition, the strategic HRM peculiarity is that it concerns the macro-concerns at the organizational level, including the structure, values, culture, performance, rewards, motivation etc. The aim of strategic HRM deriving from its features consists in the creation of the strategic capability for the company to possess the highly committed, skilled and motivated employees to enhance the company’s competitive advantage in terms of human assets. In order to achieve that aim, the strategic HRM needs to fulfill the individual and collective needs of the employees to further on implement coherent and practical HR policies and programs (Armstrong and Baron 41-42).

Before proceeding to the practical discussion of existing HRM strategies, one has to identify the modern approaches to HRM strategy; they include the classical, processual and systemic ones, having many proponents and followers in the global theoretical HRM thought. The classical approach defends the ‘cold’ analysis of organizational environment and the company’s internal resources, with the further identification of strategic options and final implementation of the chosen strategy (Wilczek 2). It is vital to remember that there is a clear distinction between the authorities responsible for strategy generation and implementation thereof. According to the classical approach, strategies are created by top management and implemented by operational managers (Wilczek 2).

The processual approach promotes the strategic flexibility of the company; it argues that strategies are formulated and implemented in an integrated, non-disruptive manner at all levels of an organization. The approach is more viable for the company in a turbulent environment, with the clear need for expertise and creativity at all levels of the organizational structure (Wilczek 3). The third approach, however, includes the socio-cultural and economic context of the countries in which the strategy is formulated into the strategic HRM process. The proponents of the systemic approach argue that cultural and geographical differences seriously affect the process of strategy formation as well as its outcomes (Wilczek 3).

Consequently, proceeding to the models of strategic HRM, one has to identify its nature as a search of the ‘best fit’ within the organizational structure. The strategic fit is the central concept of strategic HRM, also called the matching model. The essence of the model is in making the HR strategy aligned with business strategies of the company (representing the vertical fit) (Armstrong and Baron 44). The vertical fit is the integral part contributing to the business planning process in an organization; it has to match the life cycle stages of the company and be individually tailored to the dynamics of its development (Armstrong and Baron 46).

The horizontal fit is nevertheless as important as the vertical one, as the HR strategies have to be aligned from the inside, i.e. there should be a high level of coherence between the different elements of people strategies (Armstrong and Baron 44). The logical interconnection among the mutually supportive practices of the HR strategy can ensure the success of the horizontal fit, making the HR strategy the ‘best fit’, the chief objective of the overall corporate strategy. The resource-based approach to HRM strategy also provides a sound foundation for the development and implementation of strategic HRM within the organization; it dictates the resource-based approach to all tangible and intangible assets possessed by the company, and utilization thereof with the purpose of being competitive in the market (Armstrong and Baron 53).

Functions Reflected in Business Practices

The success of any organization depends on the allocation of proper human resources in proper positions to ensure their full engagement, job satisfaction and adequate rewards for the performance; however, the current review of staffing practices has shown much incongruence with the ideal objectives stipulated in each HRM department. The wrongdoings include hoarding professionals at the expense of the organization, fostering promotions on biased principles without consideration of organization-wide options, limiting individual opportunities and depriving them from feedback, promoting decrease of confidence etc. (Fombrun, Tichy, and Devanna 58). All of them lead to employee turnover and loss of intelligence, knowledge and expertise.

Introducing the strategic HRM practices in staffing now plays the crucial role in the success of the organization in the accomplishment of its business objectives. The key processes are the specification of qualification, identification of people possessing those skills, and relocating the employees to the positions that fit them the most (Fombrun et al. 58). The staffing policies are affected by the dominant corporate culture and the stage of business development (the start-up business will conduct recruiting activities to form the staff, while the business at a stage of decline can relocate the existing staff or even involve professionals from external resources to revitalize the organization). Some constructive modern HRM practices regarding staffing within an organization include job posting, management development, and succession planning for the sake of HRM integration in all fields of organizational functioning (Fombrun et al. 65).

Performance Appraisal

Performance appraisal is another central element of successful HRM because it provides the assessment and identification of critical job behaviors of the management, specifying the objectives of each manage, and agreeing on the steps and resources necessary for the achievement of those objectives (Fombrun et al. 87). There is a high risk of selective focusing in the performance appraisal, especially concerning the top management, because of lack of subjectivity and absence of anonymity. Hence, the innovative HRM practices in appraisal have to be introduced to ensure the successful accomplishment of business goals and strategies.

There are several categories of measures that can be used for performance appraisal; outcome measures are a strong indicator, but they fail to support the appraisal system in full because of the focus on results depriving managers of the opportunity to assess the process of achieving results. This approach may cause the deterioration of the system instead of its improvement, so the behavioral measures should complement the outcome ones (Fombrun et al. 91). Behavioral measures help identify the critical behavior that may aid employees in completing the objectives stipulated for their position, and the critical incident technique may be implemented for the assessment of the employee correspondence to their positions. Behavior measures are also highly helpful in selecting employees and establishing monetary rewards (Fombrun et al. 94).

The job behavioral analysis is utilized to identify the activities top managers have to conduct to implement the strategic plan. Here two types of training programs have proven to assist in objective achievement: accurate recording of what is seen, and giving feedback as well as setting the performance goals. These programs ensure objectivity and enhance the development of self-management capabilities to promote business strategies on the organization-wide level (Fombrun et al. 100).

Compensation and Benefit

The reward system in any organization may play both functional and dysfunctional roles because of the motivation or discouragement that it may bring to the employees. However, it is essential to note that the compensation system, in case it is properly designed, may become the key contributor to the effectiveness of the HR strategy and employee commitment increase. The strategic role of the reward system lies within the behavioral effect it may produce on employees, hence it has to be thoroughly considered in order to estimate the drives and incentives to be used in the effective HRM system design (Fombrun et al. 127).

The first outcome a successful reward system may offer to the company is the attraction and retention of employees. It is widely known that the companies offering the highest monetary rewards still attract the largest numbers of employees and retain them stronger and longer than other companies do. Hence, the monetary motivation turns out to be fairly strong nowadays (Fombrun et al. 128). In addition, the motivation outcome is also the direct consequence of the properly designed reward system – employees who earn more are more committed to their company, they possess a higher level of loyalty and resourcefulness towards their employer.

The organizational culture is also affected by the reward system; the way rewards are developed, administered and managed affect the culture and shape its type, e.g. participant, entrepreneurial or other ones (Fombrun et al. 128). Reinforcement and definition of the company structure are also affected by the reward system – as usual, the hierarchical structure of corresponding rewarding systems for different levels of management (Fombrun et al. 128). Finally, the compensation to employees affects the cost structure of the company. The salaries to employees traditionally constitute a large share of the company’s operating costs; hence, the thoughtful design of rewards and appraisals may save the company a considerable sum of money and help it allocate resources more productively.

HRM now plays an increasingly important role in building the business strategy and achieving the competitive advantage in the marketplace. With the emergence of the innovative approach to human resources as the strongest company asset, a variety of HRM approaches has been developed to assist the company in aligning people management with the business objectives and strategies. Therefore, it is totally possible to state that the modern organizational structure welcomes an integrated HRM system having equal opportunities and responsibilities with line management and operating in a wide range of areas to sustain the company’s consistence with its strategies.

The basis of the HRM processes is successful staffing, planning, management, identification of reward systems, identification of the company’s internal resources etc. All these activities are called to enhance the company’s competitive position and to reinforce its human capital potential. Strategic HRM is focused on the future perspectives pursued by the company, so it is directed at the macro-environment of the organization. The key processes and functions of strategic HRM constitute effective staffing (that is, proper allocation of employees according to their potential and skills), performance appraisal (both according to the behavioral patterns and outcome measures), and design of effective reward systems that would assist the company in accomplishing its business strategy.

Works Cited

Armstrong, Michael. A handbook of human resource management practice . 10 th ed. London: Kogan Page Publishers, 2006. Print.

Armstrong, Michael, and Angela Baron. Strategic HRM: the key to improved business performance . London: CIPD Publishing, 2002. Print.

Bratton, John, and Jeffrey Gold. Human Resource Management: Theory and Practice . 2 nd ed. New Jersey: Routledge, 2001. Print.

Fombrun, J. Charles, Tichy, M. Noel, and Mary Anne Devanna. Strategic human resource management. San Francisco: John Wiley and Sons, 1984. Print.

Mathis, L. Robert, and John H. Jackson. Human resource management . 12 th ed. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning, 2008.  Print.

Wilczek, Tim. The “Classical Model” for Practising Human Resource Management: …or is There a Need for an Integrated Approach Including Specialised Human Resource Strategies? Norderstedt, Germany: GRIN Verlag, 2008. Print.

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