Human Resource Management Fact, Fiction and Fallacy

Paradigm ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-21
Author(s):  
E.M. Rao
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Business School ◽  
Harvard Business School ◽  
Line Managers ◽  
Complex Problems ◽  
Organisational Behaviour

HRM took its birth in the precincts of Harvard Business School in the early 80s as an offshoot of organisational behaviour. It propagates unitarism, individualism, strong cultures, teamwork, flexibility, commitment and the take-over of personnel function by line managers, and seeks to present a revolutionary recipe with a ‘cure-all’ flavour. HRM influenced employers, academics and students in varying degrees. The undue emphasis of OB theory and deemphasis of personnel/IR practice led to a host of dysfunctional consequences. Upcoming managers are the worst hit in terms of translating their knowledge into skills required to handle complex problems lying in store for them. The shallowness of HR assumptions, the inherent contradictions among its concepts and the wide gulf between its precept and practice-all these have reduced it to ‘fiction.’

The Muktangan story (Part A): an organizational study and The Muktangan story (Part B): winds of change

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Mihir Ajgaonkar ◽  
Keith D’Souza
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Business School ◽  
Urban Poor ◽  
Organization Design ◽  
Harvard Business School ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organizational Behaviour ◽  
Organizational Study

Subject area The subject areas are organizational management, organizational behaviour and human resource management. Study level/applicability The study is applicable for courses in human resource management and organizational behaviour as part of masters-level programmes in business administration and management, executive development programmes on organization design and development for middle/senior management. Case overview In 2003, Elizabeth and Sunil Mehta had founded a voluntary organization, “Muktangan”, focussed on child-centric education through innovative pedagogy for the community of the urban poor. Elizabeth, an educationist, and Sunil, a highly successful business person, joined hands to contribute to the well-being of urban poor to make a difference to their lives. Elizabeth and Sunil presented a proposal to impart education for “the children of the community, by the teachers drawn from the community” to the residents of the slums in central Mumbai. With a humble beginning of running a small pre-school, Muktangan now manages seven schools with 3,400 children and 500 teachers, and a teachers’ training centre with a capacity to train 100 teachers a year. Muktangan won acclaim for its unique pedagogy and a very effective child-to-teacher ratio. Over the years, Elizabeth and Sunil led Muktangan with a strong passion and a “hands-on” approach. Of late, Elizabeth and Sunil faced questions from their donors about the sustainability of Muktangan with respect to leadership and management succession. Elizabeth and Sunil had a vision for Muktangan for self-directed growth with an empowered team. Muktangan embarked on the journey to create a leadership for self-directed growth. Sunil, Elizabeth and team Muktangan conceptualized and implemented a change management intervention with help from an external consultant to build the desired organization. Expected learning outcomes Outcomes are understanding issues involved in the leadership, organization design and management of change, particularly of those organizations engaged in social change and development in developing societies. Supplementary materials The Muktangan Story: Part A – An Organizational Study; The Muktangan Story Part B – Winds of Change; Teaching Note; References: Bradach J. (1996), Organizational Alignment: The 7-S Model, Harvard Business School Publishing, Boston, MA 02,163. Cooperrider D. and Whitney D. (2005), “A Positive Revolution in Change: Appreciative Inquiry”, In The Change Handbook. The Definitive Resource on Today’s Best Methods for Engaging.Whole Systems, by Peggy Holman, Tom Devane, and Steven Cady. Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Cooperrider D., Whitney D., and Stavros J.M. (2008), Appreciative Inquiry Handbook for Leaders of Change (Second Edition), Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Greiner, L.E. (1998), “Evolution and Revolution as Organizations Grow”, Harvard Business Review, May-June, 3-11. www.muktanganedu.org/ accessed 12 April, 2018. Kessler, E. H., (2013) (ed.), Encyclopaedia of Management Theory, Sage Publications Kotter, J. P. (1996), Leading Change, Harvard Business School Press, Boston. Lewin K. (1951), Field Theory in social science, Harper & Row, New York. Waterman, R. H., Peters, T. J., and Phillips, J. R. (1980), Structure is not organization. Business Horizons, 23(3), 14-26. Subject code: CSS 6: Human Resource Management.

Undergraduate Programs in the U.S

2021 ◽  
pp. 114-138
Author(s):  
Steven D. Charlier ◽  
Lisa A. Burke-Smalley ◽  
Sandra L. Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Business School ◽  
Management Education ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Undergraduate Programs ◽  
The University ◽  
The U.S

Given the importance of human resource management skills both in management education and business in general, an empirical review of undergraduate human resource (HR) curricula and programs is needed. In this study, the authors provide an investigative analysis of the content taught across HR programs in the U.S. and the context in which HR programs operate. Specifically, data across 179 undergraduate “SHRM-aligned” HR programs were collected and analyzed to identify common as well as unique content and contextual attributes at the university, business school, and program levels. Against the backdrop of the study's findings, the authors step back and purposefully comment on how they believe HR education can best be moved forward. In total, this study seeks to inform stakeholders in HR education through a clearer picture of the current and potential future states of HR curricula within U.S.-based undergraduate management programs.

scholarly journals Socially Responsible Human Resource Management and Employee Perception: The Influence of Manager and Line Managers

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Macarena López-Fernández ◽  
Pedro M. Romero-Fernández ◽  
Ina Aust
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Employee Commitment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Socially Responsible ◽  
Line Managers ◽  
Hr Managers ◽  
Managerial Employees ◽  
Different Levels

The aim of this article is to contribute to understanding the importance of considering the effect of employees’ perceptions of Socially Responsible Human Resource Management (SR-HRM) on employee commitment. Results, applied to different levels of the organization (HR managers, line managers and employees) show, on one hand, that there is a relationship between a SR-HRM and employee commitment, and on the other hand, that employees’ perceptions have an influence on the extent to which these relationships are developed. HR managers and line managers perceived SR-HRM in a similar way and line managers and non-managerial employees generally did too. The frequency with which line managers disagree with employees’ perceptions about socially responsible practices was low. Suggestions for HRM practice and future research are provided.

Talent management at Telekom Malaysia Berhad

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wardah Azimah Sumardi ◽  
Rozhan Othman
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Talent Management ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Individual Development ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Line Managers ◽  
Content Type

Subject area Human resource management. Study level/applicability Undergraduate and graduate level Human Resource Management programmes; Leadership modules. Case overview This case accounts the experience of a Malaysian company, Telekom Malaysia Berhad, in implementing talent management practices in its organization. There were several developments that prompted Telekom Malaysia Berhad to initiate a talent management program. The emergence of competitors had forced the company to introduce initiatives to sustain the business. One of the key initiatives involved the need to better manage its talent. The talent management process at Telekom Malaysia Bhd is divided into four key stages. These are first, talent spotting; second, talent assessment and endorsement; third, formulation of individual development plan; and the fourth, readiness level assessment. Each of these stages is implemented using a well-defined set of standards and activities. Expected learning outcomes This case examines how commitment and support from line management is crucial in the successful implementation of a talent management program and HR-related initiatives generally. Line managers are identified as the missing linchpin between HRM and organizational performance. The case will also identify how the role of line managers is now shifting to support the HR in a strategic sense. Thus, we find a shift in the HR profession from personnel management to strategic human resource management. The case examines the importance of a positive leader-member relationship, creating a culture which is receptive to change. This can be achieved by transformational leader who fosters closer relationships with subordinates. Finally, the case pinpoints how development can occurs in three main ways – on the job experiences, relationships, networking and feedback and formal training opportunities. Supplementary materials Teaching note.

Undergraduate Programs in the U.S

2018 ◽  
pp. 26-57
Author(s):  
Steven D. Charlier ◽  
Lisa A. Burke-Smalley ◽  
Sandra L. Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Business School ◽  
Management Education ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Undergraduate Programs ◽  
The University ◽  
The U.S

Given the importance of human resource management skills both in management education and business in general, an empirical review of undergraduate human resource (HR) curricula and programs is needed. In this study, the authors provide an investigative analysis of the content taught across HR programs in the U.S. and the context in which HR programs operate. Specifically, data across 179 undergraduate “SHRM-aligned” HR programs were collected and analyzed to identify common as well as unique content and contextual attributes at the university, business school, and program levels. Against the backdrop of the study's findings, the authors step back and purposefully comment on how they believe HR education can best be moved forward. In total, this study seeks to inform stakeholders in HR education through a clearer picture of the current and potential future states of HR curricula within U.S.-based undergraduate management programs.

The Benefits of Using Technology in Human Resource Management

2010 ◽  
pp. 1566-1573
Author(s):  
Emma Parry
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Customer Service ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Business Case ◽  
Line Managers ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Strategic Role ◽  
Hr Function

The use of technology within human resource management has grown considerably over the last decade with the majority of organizations now using some form of HR information system (HRIS). For instance, in Europe, Watson-Wyatt (2002) found that 70% of the organizations surveyed used the Internet or Intranet to deliver HR services to employees with most respondents planning to enhance substantially their e-HR capabilities over the two years after the survey. In the UK alone, survey research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development in 2005 showed that 77% of organizations used an HRIS. Research from Cranfield School of Management in 2003 found an even higher proportion of companies using HRIS at 82%. An HRIS can perform a number of functions from the simple storage and communication of information, to more complex transactions. As technology advances, the range of functions that an HRIS can undertake increases. The use of HRIS can provide a number of benefits to the HR function, line managers, and the wider organization. On one level, the use of technology has been shown to lead to faster, more accurate and more efficient processes, and reduced HR costs. Technology can also be used to provide HR information and to enable managers and employees to perform simple HR tasks themselves. On another level, the use of HRIS to reduce the administrative and transactional burden on the HR function can lead to a change in the structure of HR and allow the function to play a more strategic role in the organization. The reasons behind an organization’s introduction of an HRIS may vary considerably from the need to facilitate efficient processes or cut costs, to improve communication and customer service, or the desire to create a shift in the role of the HR function from one that is mainly administrative to one that is more strategic. This chapter will discuss the potential impacts of technology on HRM in terms of the possible rationale behind the introduction of an HRIS. The chapter will draw on the past literature on HRIS as well as on case study research conducted by the author in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (Parry, Tyson, Selbie, & Leighton, 2006) to examine the possible components of a business case for HRIS and the benefits that such systems can potentially offer to an organization.

The Benefits of Using Technology in Human Resource Management

2010 ◽  
pp. 522-529
Author(s):  
Emma Parry
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource Management ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Customer Service ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Business Case ◽  
Line Managers ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Strategic Role ◽  
Hr Function

The use of technology within human resource management has grown considerably over the last decade with the majority of organizations now using some form of HR information system (HRIS). For instance, in Europe, Watson-Wyatt (2002) found that 70% of the organizations surveyed used the Internet or Intranet to deliver HR services to employees with most respondents planning to enhance substantially their e-HR capabilities over the two years after the survey. In the UK alone, survey research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development in 2005 showed that 77% of organizations used an HRIS. Research from Cranfield School of Management in 2003 found an even higher proportion of companies using HRIS at 82%. An HRIS can perform a number of functions from the simple storage and communication of information, to more complex transactions. As technology advances, the range of functions that an HRIS can undertake increases. The use of HRIS can provide a number of benefits to the HR function, line managers, and the wider organization. On one level, the use of technology has been shown to lead to faster, more accurate and more efficient processes, and reduced HR costs. Technology can also be used to provide HR information and to enable managers and employees to perform simple HR tasks themselves. On another level, the use of HRIS to reduce the administrative and transactional burden on the HR function can lead to a change in the structure of HR and allow the function to play a more strategic role in the organization. The reasons behind an organization’s introduction of an HRIS may vary considerably from the need to facilitate efficient processes or cut costs, to improve communication and customer service, or the desire to create a shift in the role of the HR function from one that is mainly administrative to one that is more strategic. This chapter will discuss the potential impacts of technology on HRM in terms of the possible rationale behind the introduction of an HRIS. The chapter will draw on the past literature on HRIS as well as on case study research conducted by the author in conjunction with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (Parry, Tyson, Selbie, & Leighton, 2006) to examine the possible components of a business case for HRIS and the benefits that such systems can potentially offer to an organization.

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