HRM Functions

Collective Bargaining – Definition, Features and Process

Collective bargaining involves discussions and negotiations between two groups as to the terms and conditions of employment. It is called ‘collective’ because both the employer and the employee act as a group rather than as individuals. It is known as ‘bargaining’ because the method of reaching an agreement involves proposals and counter proposals, offers and counter offers and other negotiations.

Thus collective bargaining:

  • is a collective process in which representatives of both the management and employees participate.
  • is a continuous process which aims at establishing stable relationships between the parties involved.
  • not only involves the bargaining agreement, but also involves the implementation of such an agreement.
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HRM Functions: Training and Management Development

Having selected the manager for the job, he or she must be trained. However, it is not sufficient to provide training only for the manager: the whole family must be trained.

Training should include at least two phases. Pre-departure training should focus on language, history and culture for the whole family and on job-specific training for the manager. On arrival in the new country two or three weeks without too much job-related activity should be allowed for adaptation to the new culture. Transition training should continue with language and culture training as well as meetings at which the new expatriates have the chance to mix with local residents and other foreign nationals.… Read the rest

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Different approaches to training needs assessment

What is need assessment?

“A training need exists when an employee lacks the knowledge or skill to perform an assigned task satisfactorily. It arises when there is a variation between what the employee is expected to do on the job and what the actual job performance is.”

To pinpoint the range of training needs and define their content, the HR department uses different approaches to needs assessment.

1. Survey:

  • Survey the potential trainees to identify specific topics about which they want to learn more.
  • It suggests that trainees are more likely to be receptive to the resulting programs when they are viewed as relevant.
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Different Employee Training and Development Methods

Every organization needs well-adjusted, trained and experienced people to perform its activities. As jobs in today’s dynamic organizations have become more complex, the importance of employee education has increased. Employee training is a learning experience, it seeks a relatively permanent change in employees that improves job performance. Training involves changing skills, knowledge, attitudes, or behavior. This may means changing what employee know, how they work, or their attitudes toward their jobs, coworkers, managers, and the organization.

Managers, with HRM assistance, decide when employees need training and what form that training should take.

On-the-Job Training Methods 1. Job instructions:
  • It is received directly on the job, and so it is often called “on-the-job” training (OJT).
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Development of Human Resources in an Organization

Human resource development (HRD) is a sub-system that operated in the main system; the organization. In order for the organization to be successful the objectives and goals of the subsystems must be aligned towards achieving the set goals of the main system. For example, the primary objective of the organization would be to maximize return on shareholder investment. We may find that the objectives of training and development would be a level removed down, that is to maximize the capabilities of the employees, induce innovation, and produce high quality products and service. They may be different but a closer look at each of these objectives reveals that they serve a singular purpose; maximize the return.… Read the rest

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Introduction to Organization Development

Organizations change from time to time. Changes with respect to continuous improvements, diversity, and work process engineering require the organization to move forward through a process called organizational development.

Definition of Organization Development:

Organization development is a process that addresses system wide change in the organization.

Change agent:

  • Change agents are individuals responsible for fostering the change effort and assisting employees in adapting to changes
  • They are may be internal employees, or external consultants.

What is change?

Organization development efforts support changes that are usually made in four areas:

  • The organization’s systems
  • Technology
  • Processes
  • People

Two metaphors clarify the change process.… Read the rest

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