Fundamentals of Human Resource Management Ch 1

Fundamentals of Human Resource Management

Introduction

The World of Work - continues to change, but at an even more rapid pace.

HR must understand the implications of:1. globalization2. technology changes3. workforce diversity4. changing skill requirements5. continuous improvement initiatives6. the contingent work force7. decentralized work sites8. and employee involvement

Understanding Cultural Environments Today’s business world is truly a global village.

This term refers to the fact that businesses currently operate around the world.

Cultural Implications for HRM

Not all HRM theories and practices are universally applicable.

HRM must understand varying cultural values.

The Changing World of Technology Has altered the way people work. Has changed the way information is created,

stored, used, and shared. The move from agriculture to industrialization

created a new group of workers – the blue-collar industrial worker.

Since WWII, the trend has been a reduction in manufacturing work and an increase in service jobs.

The Changing World of Technology Knowledge Worker - individuals whose jobs

are designed around the acquisition and application of information.

Why the emphasis on technology: makes organizations more productive helps them create and maintain a

competitive advantage provides better, more useful information

The Changing World of Technology How Technology Affects HRM Practices

Recruiting Employee Selection Training and Development Ethics and Employee Rights Motivating Knowledge Workers Paying Employees Market Value Communication Decentralized Work Sites Skill Levels Legal Concerns

Workforce Diversity

The challenge is to make organizations more accommodating to diverse groups of people.

Workforce Diversity

The Workforce Today minorities and women have become the

fastest growing segments the numbers of immigrant workers and

older workers are increasing

Workforce Diversity

How Diversity Affects HRM Need to attract and maintain a diversified

work force that is reflective of the diversity in the general population.

Need to foster increased sensitivity to group differences.

Must deal with the different Values Needs Interests Expectations of employees

Workforce Diversity

What Is a Work/Life Balance? A balance between personal life and work Causes of the blur between work and life

The creation of global organizations means the world never sleeps.

Communication technologies allow employees to work at home.

Organizations are asking employees to put in longer hours.

Fewer families have a single breadwinner.

Labor Supply

Why Do Organizations Lay Off During Shortages? Downsizing is part of a larger goal of

balancing staff to meet changing needs. Organizations want more flexibility to better

respond to change. This is often referred to as rightsizing,

linking employee needs to organizational strategy.

Labor Supply

How Do Organizations Balance Labor Supply? Organizations are increasingly using

contingent workers to respond to fluctuating needs for employees.

Contingent workers include Part-time workers Temporary workers Contract workers

Labor Supply

Labor Supply

Issues Contingent Workers Create for HRM How to attract quality temporaries How to motivate employees who are

receiving less pay and benefits How to have them available when needed How to quickly adapt them to the

organization How to deal with potential conflicts

between core and contingent workers

Continuous Improvement Programs

Continuous improvement - making constant efforts to provide better products and service to customers External Internal

Continuous Improvement Programs

Key components of continuous improvement are: Focus on the customer Concern for continuous improvement Improvement in the quality of everything Accurate measurement Empowerment of employees

Work Process Engineering

Work Process Engineering involves radical, quantum changes to entire work processes.

How HRM Assists in Work Process Engineering

Helps employees deal with the emotional aspects of conflict and change

Provides skills training Adapts HR systems, such as compensation,

benefits, and performance standards.

Employee Involvement

Delegation – having the authority to make decisions in one’s job

Work teams – workers of various specializations who work together in an organization

HRM must provide training to help empower employees in their new roles.

Involvement programs can achieve: greater productivity increased employee loyalty and commitment

Ethics

A set of rules or principles that defines right or wrong conduct.

Three views of ethics:

Utilitarian View – decisions are made on the basis of their outcomes or consequences

Rights View – decisions are made with concern for respecting and protecting individual liberties and privileges

Theory of Justice View – decisions are make by enforcing rules fairly and impartially

A Look at Ethics

Code of ethics - a formal document that states an organization’s primary values and the ethical rules it expects organizational members to follow.