The Changing Role of Human resource management Essay Example for Free

The Changing Role of Human resource management Essay For years, businesses relied on personnel departments for the management of their employees. The primary concerns of the personnel departments included attendance records, benefits, and salary. Therefore, the personnel departments did not consider the importance of contributions a company’s employees made to the business. These contributions included such things as diversity and intellectual capital. As businesses began to expand globally, they began realizing the importance of their human resources. Thus the concept of Human Resources (HR) management began to emerge as an outgrowth of the personnel departments. According to the week one overview, companies depend on their human resources departments to manage and provide for the organization’s needs through the use of their human assets. These assets include the business partners, community, customers, employees, and stakeholders of the company (University of Phoenix, 2010). The purpose of this paper is to discuss the various responses by human resources management to (a) globalization, (b) technology, (c) diversity, (d) e-business, and (e) ethics. To begin with, a definition of human resources management is in order. Definition of Human Resources (HR) Management According to Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, and Wright (2007), a definition of HR management is the company’s guidelines, procedures, and structures that directly influence their employee’s actions, conduct, outlook, mindsets, and job performances. Modern companies consider human resources management to be good practice regarding the optimum use of their employees’ intellectual capital, including the skills and expertise these employees bring to the company, and work to ensure their human resources managers understand this (Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, Wright, 2007). Response to Globalization As businesses enter the global market, they are beginning to realize the importance of HR management in such areas as change management, setting goals and objectives, recognizing employee skills, and working with diverse groups. According to a report released in 2000, for a corporation to develop a culture that is consistent the corporation must establish and preserve a â€Å"critical balance between a strong corporate culture and local cultural differences† (Rioux, Bernthal, Wellins, 2000, p. 1). The report went on to state â€Å"the globalization of HR is characterized by increasing levels of decentralization† (Rioux et al. 2000, p. 1). As a result, companies are placing their HR departments, including those in the global market, into more centralized areas containing one HR department and a regional or international staff. Because of this centralization, HR managers need to recognize differences among employees regarding areas such as culture, ethnicity, and religion. Response to Technology HR managers need to recognize that because of advances in technology, businesses are beginning to hire employees to work in areas that require higher education and special training including engineering, manufacturing, and quality management. To respond effectively, HR managers must develop and encourage the creativity and innovation these highly trained employees bring to their organizations. To accomplish this may mean HR managers need to improve the communication process, develop new and improved programs for continuing education, and realign staff (Bundy, 1997). Response to Diversity Among the challenges facing businesses today is an increasingly diverse workforce. As more minorities enter the labor market, HR managers are beginning to realize they have the responsibility of ensuring these minorities they do not become victims of discrimination. HR managers must learn to recognize and use their employees’ intellectual capital, including the abilities, expertise, and ethical values, these employees contribute to the workforce. A good HR manager will respect people of different cultures, ethnicities, and gender. According to Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, and Wright (2007) more businesses in the United States are beginning to realize they need to acknowledge and recognize the diversity of their employees and use this diversity in ways that will allow them to gain advantages over their competition (Noe et al. , 2007). Response to e-Business Individuals and organizations are beginning to recognize the importance of the Internet in conducting business. As a result, e-business is becoming more prevalent. The book defines electronic business or e-business as â€Å"any process that a business conducts electronically, especially business involving use of the Internet† (Noe et al. , 2007, p. 50). E-business allows consumers to purchase items using the Internet or conduct banking transactions, companies to conduct transactions with each other, and consumers to conduct transactions among themselves such as auctions. Because of the increasing use of the Internet to conduct business, HR managers find themselves faced with several challenges. These challenges include ensuring the company is continually updating their employee requirements regarding such things as ability and competence. HR managers must recruit and train people to meet those requirements. Response to Ethics Businesses need to ensure the people they hire to work in and manage their HR departments behave ethically. The definition of ethics is the â€Å"fundamental principles of right and wrong† (Noe et al. 2007, p. 17). HR managers must ensure their behavior is always ethical and the company’s employees also behave ethically. HR managers need to implement training programs that teach employees how to behave ethically in the workplace. For example, HR managers need to recognize that people have certain basic rights including the right to refuse to engage in activities that violate their morals (Noe et al. , 2007). Conclusion Over the years the role of HR management has undergone several changes. The human resources department is no longer just a personnel department concerned merely with attendance records, benefits, and salary. Instead, HR managers find they are becoming more involved in every department of the business. Companies are beginning to recognize that good HR managers are very important to the continuing success of their businesses. Therefore, HR managers need to ensure they have expertise in areas such as globalization, technology, diversity, e-business, and ethics.