The Primary Functions of Human Resource Management

Walk the talk!!!!!!

Human resource management can be defined as the effective selection and utilization of employees to best achieve the goals and the strategies of the organizations, as well as the goals and the needs of employees. The responsible of human resource management should be shared by human resource specialists and line management. To accomplish this, it is required to clearly know the main functions of human resource management. The functions of human resource management are divided into two parts (Desimone et al, 2002, pp. 8-9) as follow:

A. Primary functions of human resource management

            1. Human resource planning: This is related to planning for both present and future demand and supplies. This is required to study the external market, and changes so that the planners can conduct a strategic plan in advance.

            2. Equal employment opportunity: This is concerned with both moral and legal responsibilities of the organizations through prevention of discriminatory policies, procedures and practices that are relevant to hiring, training, compensating, and appraising.  

            3. Staffing (recruitment and selection): It mainly deals with the identification of potential applicants for current and future openings and for assessing and evaluating in order to make a selection and placement decision.

4. Compensation and benefits: This copes with an equitable internal wage structure, a competitive benefits package, as well as incentives tied to individual, teams or organizational performance.

5. Employees (labor) relation: It is related to the communication system that employees can address their problems and grievances. This included unionized organizations and labor relations.  

6. Health, Safety and Security: This annexes to promoting a safety and health work environment that includes safety training, employees’ assistance programs, and health and wellness programs.  

7. Human resource development: It is intended to ensure that organizational members have the skills or competencies to meet current and future job demands.

B. Secondary functions of human resource management

            1. Organization and job design: It is the way of communication through inter-department, organization and job definition.

            2. Performance management and performance appraisal systems: It is related to maintaining accountability through the organization.

            3. Research and information systems: This includes human resource information systems that are necessary to make enlightened human resource decisions.

Sam Aun (Andy)