NATURE OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

The emergence of human resource management can be attributed to the writings of the human relationists who attached great significance to the human factor. Lawrence Appley 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 recognised 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, motivate and guide them. However, he can take the help of the specialised 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 organisation rather that by the personnel department only. If a manager is to get the best of his people, he must undertake the basic responsibility of selecting people who will work under him.

2. Pervasive Function : Human Resource Management is a pervasive function of management. It is performed by all managers at various levels in the organisation. It is not a responsibility that a

manager can leave completely to someone else. However, he may secure advice and help in managing people from experts who have special competence in personnel management and industrial relations.

 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 organisations. It is concerned with all categories of personnel from top to the bottom of the organisation. The broad classification of personnel in an industrial enterprise may be as follows : (i) Blue-collar workers (i.e. those working on machines and engaged in loading, unloading etc.) and white-collar workers (i.e. clerical employees), (ii) Managerial and non-managerial personnel, (iii) Professionals (such as Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary, Lawyer, etc.) and non-professional personnel.

 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. For the performance of these activities efficiently, a separate department known as Personnel Department is created in most of the organisations.

 6. Continuous Process : Human Resource Management is not a ‗one shot‘ function. It must be performed continuously if the organisational objectives are to be achieved smoothly.

 7. Based on Human Relations : Human Resource Management is concerned with the motivation of human resources in the organisation. The human beings can‘t be dealt with like physical factors of production. Every person has different needs, perceptions and expectations. The managers should give due attention to these factors. They require human relations skills to deal with the people at work. Human relations skills are also required in training performance appraisal, transfer and promotion of subordinates.