HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, ITS PURPOSE AND FUNCTIONS

Human resources management is a very important function in every organization. Without human resources management, companies would not be able to effectively recruit and retain employees, improve and enhance the organization, and they wouldn’t be able to maintain a healthy, accepting workplace culture and environment. Human resources management is so important to organizations that many call this department the heart and soul of a business.

Human resource management is the process of finding, selecting, delegating, and overseeing employees (HRM). HRM is frequently referred to as simply "human resources" (HR). A company's or organization's HR department is frequently in charge of creating, enforcing, and overseeing the company's rules involving employees and its interactions with them. In the early 1900s, the term "human resources" was initially used to describe all of an organization's personnel or people management, and it gained in popularity in the 1960s (TechTarget,2023).

In the early 20th century, people considered as cost to the business, but this concept then transformed into humans being an asset to the business, therefore, managing the valuable people assets is very important in organizations. 

According to the Armstrong, (2014) “Human resource management (HRM) is a com-prehensive and coherent approach to the employment and development of people”. Moreover, HRM can be seen as a philosophy about how people should be managed, supported by a number of ideas regarding human behavior and organizational structure. But it is, or should be, equally concerned with the ethical aspect – how people should be treated in accordance with a set of moral principles. It is concerned with the contribution it can make to increasing organizational effectiveness through people. Applying policies and practices in the areas of organization design and development, personnel resourcing, learning and development, performance and reward, and the provision of services that improve employee wellbeing are all part of human resource management (HRM). They are based on integrated human resource (HR) strategies that are in line with the company plan.

Figure 01: Human Resource Management

Purpose of Human Resources Management

The purpose of human resource management in an organization is immense. Human resources management not only helps to keep employees happy and well trained, but it also ensures that the company is working within the guidelines of regulations and solves any liability issues that may arise.

Without a proper human resources management department in an organization, that company is almost guaranteed to fail.

The purpose of HRM procedures is to manage the workforce so that the organization may fulfill its mission and uphold its culture. When HR managers do their duties well, they can assist in finding new hires with the qualifications needed to advance the company's objectives as well as assist in the training and development of current employees to achieve goals (TechTarget,2023).

The Functions of Human Resource Management

According to the ADP, (2023) HR functions can change depending on the sector, the size of the company, and the sorts of people employed. The main goals are often to find and develop talent as well as to enhance cooperation and communication among workforce members. Additional crucial duties of human resource management include:

Figure 02: HRM Process

Job analysis

The correct personnel may be easier to hire, pay fairly, and develop training programs if the abilities and expertise required to do the job are known in advance.

Workforce operations

Supporting regulatory compliance can be achieved by developing health and safety regulations, handling employee complaints, collaborating with labor unions, etc.

Performance measurement

In addition to fostering employee growth through constructive criticism, performance evaluation also serves as a guide for pay increases, promotions, and terminations.

Incentive programs

A tried-and-true strategy for encouraging staff members to take responsibility for company goals is by praising accomplishments and rewarding top performers with bonuses and other benefits.

Professional development

Employee training, which ranges from orientation to advanced educational programs, helps to increase production, decrease attrition, and lessen the need for supervisors.

As a conclusion, human resource management is one of the core functions of an organization, and it is important to achieve the vision of an organization by properly managing human assets. More important functions of human resources management include job analysis, workforce operations, performance measurement, incentive programs, and professional development.

 

References:

Armstrong, M. & Tylor, S. (2014) Human Resource Management Practices. 14^th edition. London EC1V 3RS : Ashford Colour Press Ltd.

Wesley, C.2023. TechTarget. [Online] Available at: https://www.techtarget.com/searchhrsoftware/definition/human-resource-management-HRM [Accessed March 2023]

ADP, 2023. Human Resource Management. [Online] Available at: https://www.adp.com/resources/articles-and-insights/articles/h/human-resource-management.aspx [Accessed March 2023]