Business Administration-Human Resource Management

A manager should remember that people are the ultimate resource in the organisation.  At present there are a number of challenges facing Human Resource Managers.  These challenges include:

1. Dynamic Global Competition
2. Technology and the importance of the knowledge economy
3. Demographics
4. Legal and political changes

There are a number of factors that should be considered when developing a human resource plan, these include:

• Understanding the corporate objective
• Analyse current human resources
• Estimate future needs-conduct a demand and supply analyses
• Develop action plans for recruitment, selection and induction

Recruitment and Selection
This process is concerned with the finding, assessing and engaging new employees.  Prior to designing the recruitment advertisement it is necessary to focus on creating a job analysis.  This involves focusing creating a job description, person specification and terms and conditions of employment.  A job description identifies the scope, duties and responsibilities attached to the job.  The person specification identifies the traits and abilities that the ideal candidate should have.  A HR manager can identify the ideal and desireable traits the ideal candidateshould have.  The terms and conditions have to be identified before the contract is signed.

Once a number of CVs or application forms have been processed a small number of candidates will be chosen.  The find the right candidate a number of selection methods could be used.  These include:

• Intelligence tests
• Aptitude tests
• Proficiency
• Personality tests
• Interview and reference checks

Once the ideal candidate has been chosen there is a placement and induction process.

Motivation and reward
How do you motivate your staff?  What types of rewards are used to motivate staff?  Does money really motivate??

There are three main theories of motivation and these are:

• McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y
• Herzberg Two Factor Theory
• Vroom's Expectancy Theory

A new employee will go through an appraisal process possibly within twelve months of starting in the organisation.  The main reasons why an appraisal is undertaken is as follows:

• It identifies whether people are performing at a satisfactory level
• Determining if additional training is needed
• Identify potential in existing employees
• Provide input into the reward system
• Enables more effective communication between management and employees

Training and development
Training is for the here and now-to acquire skills that are necessary for the job.  Development is for the future.  Some training courses take place within the company such as manual handling and health and safety training.  More specialised training may take place in training centres, colleges or universities.