Overview of HRM 1 | P a g e
CHAPTER ONE
OVERVIEW OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
1. Definitions:
a) HRM is that part of management concerned with people at work and with their
relationships within an enterprise. It is to bring together and develop into an
effective organization the men and women who make up an enterprise and,
having regard for the wellbeing of the individual and of working groups, to
enable them to make their best contribution to its success. (Graham et al 1992)
b) HRM refers to the concept or techniques needed to carry out the people or
personnel aspects of a management position including recruiting, screening,
training, rewarding, and appraising.( Dessler, 1994)
c) Human resource management is the process of accomplishing organizational
objectives by acquiring, retaining, terminating, developing and properly using
the human resources in an organization. (Ivancevich et 1990)
d) HRM is the planning, organizing, directing, and controlling of the
procurement, development, compensation, integration, maintenance, and
separation of human resources to the end that individual, organizational, and
societal objectives are accomplished (Flippo , 1984)
NATURE OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
The emergence of human resource management can be attributed to the writings of the
human religionists who attached great significance to the human factor. Lawrence
Apply remarked Management is personnel administration. This view is partially true as
management is concerned with the efficient and effective use of both human as well
as non-human resources. Thus human resource management is only a part of the
management process. At the same time, it must be recognized that human resource
management is inherent in the process of management. This function is performed by
all the managers. A manager to get the best of his people must undertake the basic
responsibility of selecting people who will work under him and to help develop,
Overview of HRM 2 | P a g e
motivate and guide them. However, he can take the help of the specialized services of
the personnel department in discharging this responsibility. The nature of the human
resource management has been highlighted in its following features:
1. Inherent Part of Management: Human resource management is inherent in the
process of management. This function is performed by all the managers throughout the
organization rather that by the personnel department only.
2. Pervasive Function: Human Resource Management is a pervasive function of
management. It is performed by all managers at various levels in the organization.
3. Basic to all Functional Areas: Human Resource Management permeates all the
functional area of management such as production management, financial
management, and marketing management. That is every manager from top to bottom,
working in any department has to perform the personnel functions.
4. People Centered: Human Resource Management is people centered and is relevant in
all types of organizations. It is concerned with all categories of personnel from top to
the bottom of organization.
5. Personnel Activities or Functions: Human Resource Management involves several
functions concerned with the management of people at work. It includes manpower
planning, employment, placement, training, appraisal and compensation of employees.
6. Continuous Process: Human Resource Management is not a one-shot function. It
must be performed continuously if the organizational objectives are to be achieved
smoothly.
7. Based on Human Relations: Human Resource Management is concerned with the
motivation of human resources in the organization. The human beings can‘t be dealt
with like physical factors of production.
OBJECTIVES OF HUMAN RESOURCES MANAMGENT
a) To help an organization reach its goals.
b) To employ the skills and abilities of the workforce efficiently.
c) To provide the organization with well-trained and well-motivated employees.
d) To increase to the fullest the employee’s job satisfaction and self-actualization..
e) To develop and maintain a quality of work life (QWL) which makes
employment in the organization a desirable personal and social situation. It
involves several aspects of a job experience. It may include:
i) Management and supervisory style
ii) Freedom and autonomy to make decisions on the job.
iii) Satisfactory physical surroundings, job safety, satisfactory working hours.
iv) Meaningful tasks
f) To communicate personnel policies to all employees.
g) To help maintain ethical policies and behavior.
