Human Resources

MARCH 2012

Part A

Question 1

a) Define human resource management (HRM)

Human resource management is defined as the policies and practices involved in carrying out the “people” or human resource aspect of a management position, including recruiting, screening, training, rewarding and appraising.

b) Explain four (4) types of human resource management functions

There are four types of human resource management function that is staffing, compensation and benefits, industrial relations, human resource function.

Firstly, is staffing. This involves three major activities; there are human resource planning, recruitment, and selection. Human resource planning is the process of systematically reviewing human resource requirements to ensure the required number employees, with the required skills, are available when needed. Recruitment is the process where we attract to apply for the job vacancies. The more candidates apply for the job vacancies, the better because we can have more choices. Selection is the process where we choose the best candidates from among the job applicants.

Secondly, is compensation and benefits. Human resource management is responsible for making sure that employee compensation is competitive with respect to other organization, fair in terms of internal equity, legal and motivating. For example the health insurance, wages survey, job analysis, and job evaluation.

Thirdly, is industrial relationship. In organizations that are unionized, the human resource department takes an active role in negotiating and administering the labor agreement. The human resource department will be the one involved in handling collective bargaining with the employees union. Human resource department in non-union organizations also need to be involved in employees relation. The human resource people will have to ensure that the employees are treated fairly and that there are well-defined procedures for solving complaints.

Lastly, is human resource research. Human...