Human Resource Management Notes
Subject Overview
Human Resource Management introduces the discipline of managing people at work — from planning and hiring through training, appraisal, and compensation. You'll cover the nature and scope of HRM (including new trends from globalisation and technology), job analysis and design, recruitment and selection, training and career development, and close with performance appraisal, wage and salary administration, and an introduction to industrial relations. This is a 6-credit core paper across 4 units, and it lays the groundwork for anyone heading toward HR roles or the people-management side of business.
Subject at a glance
4
Units
28
Topics
6
Credits
4
Infographics
Unit-wise Syllabus
4 units — open any unit for detailed topic-wise notes, diagrams and important exam questions
- Nature
- scope
- role and importance of HRM
- new trends from globalisation
- deregulation and technology
- HRM practices in India
- factors affecting human resource planning
- the HRP process
- 1Analyse objectives
What the business needs
- 2Forecast demand
How many people, with what skills
- 3Forecast supply
Internal and external availability
- 4Identify the gap
Surplus or shortage
- 5Action plan
Recruit, train, redeploy
Study guide
HRM is about getting the best from an organisation's people. You study the nature, scope, role and importance of HRM, new trends driven by globalisation, deregulation and technology, HRM practices in India and the factors and process of human resource planning. Link HR planning to a real example such as a company hiring for expansion.
- Steps in job analysis and methods of collecting job information
- job description and specification
- job simplification
- rotation
- enrichment and enlargement
- sources and policies of recruitment
- selection process
- testing
- interviews
- placement and induction
- 1
Application screening
- 2
Selection tests
Aptitude, skills, personality
- 3
Interview
- 4
Reference and background checks
- 5
Medical check
- 6
Offer and induction
Study guide
Before hiring, the job must be understood. You study the steps in job analysis, methods of collecting job information, job description and specification, job design techniques (simplification, rotation, enrichment and enlargement), sources and policies of recruitment, the selection process, tests, interviews, placement and induction. Learn the difference between job description and job specification.
- Identification of training needs
- process and methods of training and development
- career life cycle
- process of career planning and development
Where
At the workplace
Classroom or training centre
Methods
Coaching, job rotation, apprenticeship
Lectures, case studies, role play, simulation
Cost
Lower
Higher
Drawback
May disturb work
Transfer to real work can be harder
Study guide
People need continuous development. You study identifying training needs, the process and methods of training and development, the career life cycle and the process of career planning and development. Be able to compare on-the-job and off-the-job training methods.
- Meaning and process of performance appraisal
- methods and problems
- wage and salary administration
- elements and methods of wages
- incentive plans and fringe benefits
- meaning and concept of industrial relations
- Halo effect
- One good trait colours the whole rating
- Central tendency
- Rating everyone as average
- Leniency or strictness
- Rating everyone too high or too low
- Recency effect
- Only recent events count
- Personal bias
- Favouritism or prejudice
Study guide
This unit covers performance and reward: the meaning and process of performance appraisal, methods and problems, wage and salary administration, the elements and methods of wages, incentive plans and fringe benefits, and the concept of industrial relations. Remember that the problems of appraisal, such as halo effect and bias, are frequently asked.
Why Human Resource Management Matters
HR skills are needed in every organisation, and HRM is a popular specialisation in MBA programmes. Understanding recruitment, training and appraisal helps in HR roles and in any management position.
How to Prepare for Human Resource Management
- Prepare a table comparing methods of training and methods of performance appraisal.
- Learn the recruitment and selection process step by step.
- Use real company HR practices as examples.
Human Resource Management: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between job description and job specification?
A job description lists the duties and responsibilities of a job, while a job specification lists the qualifications, skills and qualities required of the person doing it.
What is performance appraisal?
Performance appraisal is the systematic evaluation of an employee's job performance and potential against set standards.