Hard and Soft Models of Human Resource Management Essay

Buckley, R. M., Fedor, D. B., & Ferris, G. R. (2002). Human resources management: perspectives, context, functions, and outcomes (4th ed.). New York: Prentice Hall.

To define what HRM is, it is important to understand what management is. Based on ‘Essentials of management’ written by DuBrin, A.J and Cengage Learning (2010) they describe management as a process in which organisational uses resource’s to achieve objectives . This can be achieve through planning, organizing and staffing as well as leading, motivating and controlling. So if management is to manage resource to achieve objectives then HRM is a “distinctive approach to employment management which seeks to achieve competitive advantage” (Storey 2001).

Human resource management (HRM) is the strategic and coherent approach to the management of an organization's most valued assets - the people working there who individually and collectively contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the business.[1] The terms "human resource management" and "human resources" (HR) have largely replaced the term "personnel management" as a description of the processes involved in managing people in organizations.[1] Human Resource management is evolving rapidly. Human resource management is both an academic theory and a business practice that addresses the theoretical and practical techniques of managing a workforce.

To begin evaluating strategic human resource management approaches, one must first understand the concept of human resource management and how it came to be. Human resource management stemmed from what use to be called personnel management in the early 1940’s. The term human resource management (HRM) was first used in the United States and it suggests to some that “employees were an asset or resource-like machines, but at the same time HR also appeared to emphasize employee commitment and motivation” (CPID, 2016).

Different models have been introduced to describe the role of HRM, which categorises the “soft” or the “hard” approach

Introduction: HRM plays a vital role in supporting business strategies while taking any business decisions at higher level of organizations. Human Resource Management which can make the effective use of human resource in order to enhance organizational performance and as a strategic business partner, human resources management can justify adequate funding for human resources activities. This assignment aims to investigate different human resource management issues. It will also provide us a clear view about the role and importance of HRM in achieving organisational effectiveness. It discusses about the formulation and implementation of HR strategies along with the contemporary issues impacting SHRM.

Byars, Lloyd L., and Leslie W. Rue. Human resource management. 10th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2010. Print.

The world is changing at a very intense rate compared to the 1980s. With the rapid involvement and changing world of technology, it is becoming intertwined with almost all aspects of our life. With personnel management changing into human resource management. Human resource management has two models of approaching their work and that is hard HRM and soft HRM. These two are widely used for many organizations that involve the Human Resource team to approach the practices. There is no perfect way to run an organization with these strategies. Hard HRM involves a company that is usually looking at its employers and seeing them as resources that are adding to the overall efficiency and maximization of the organization. Hard HRM looks at resources in the organization and try to run the company as cheaply and understandable by the top of the pyramid employees and the lesser are replaceable and less important. The ‘hard’ approach may be seen as having some kinship with the calculative approach associated historically with scientific management (Druker, White, Hegewisch & Mayne, 1996, p.406). On the other hand, Soft HRM looks at its employees as more than another thing to make them more money but rather as assets to what makes the community of the organization great and successful. Soft HRM wants to make sure that the employees are committed and enjoying the experience and occupation in the organization. Soft HRM places an emphasis on “human” (Gill, 1999, p.4). Soft HRM wants the

Human resources management was defined as ‘a strategic, integrated and coherent approach to the employment, development and well-being of the people working in organizations’ by Boxall and Purcell (2003). Noon, 1992 (as cited in Armstrong, 2014 a, p6) drew ‘doubts of whether HRM was a map, a model or a theory. But it is evident that the original concept could be seen as a philosophy’. The human

People are biggest asset for every organization and, therefore, to draw, motivate, and preserve the most skilled employees and assign them to jobs for which they are exceptionally well suited is a responsible job for human resource. Therefore, human resources management is done in all type of organizations. Profound management of people is equally indispensable in success of organizations as the sound management of production, finance, and other operations. The human resource management field postulates the infinite diversity of people and their dynamics (McKenzie & Traynor, 2002). To get into this career field, one must have the required education degree by completing many different courses, and have the experience along with skills and

Human resources management (HRM) is concerned with the ‘people’ management. HRM is a term increasingly used to refer to the philosophy, policies procedures and practices relating to the management of people within organization. Since every organization is made up of people, acquiring their services developing their skills, motivating them to higher levels of performance, and ensuring that they continue to maintain their commitments to the organization are essentials in achieving organizational objectives. Organization is able to acquire, develop, stimulate and keep out standing workers we both effective and efficient. Organization that are inefficient risk the hazard of standing or going out of business.

Beardwell and Claydon (2010) Human resource management: a contemporary approach . Edited by Julie Beardwell and Tim Claydon

Wright and McMahan (1994) define strategic HRM as “the pattern of planned Human Resource deployments and activities intended to enable the organisation to achieve its goals.” A HR function should impact the success of an organisation; a policy must remain current and suitable to both the internal and external environment. Ulrich and Lake (1990) affirm, ‘HRM systems can be the source of organisational capabilities that allow organisations to learn and capitalise on new opportunities.’

Human Resource Management is a vital function in any organisation and operates in legal and social environments that are becoming increasingly complex. It is defined as the process and practice of managing and advising executives on staff recruitment, selection, retention and development (Clegg, Kornberger & Pitsis 2011). In the post-bureaucratic era, these management styles have altered to cater towards satisfying employees through intrinsic rewards by providing pride, relationships, meaning and a sense of accomplishment through their work (Clegg, Josserand & Teo 2006). Throughout this essay, the evolution of human resource management from the bureaucratic era’s ‘hard theories’ to the post-bureaucratic era’s ‘soft theories’ will be

Alignment between HRM practices and organizational strategy establishes a coherent system for organizations. There has to be a "fit" between the human resource planning and organizational strategy, Internal fit aligns HR practices with strategic organizational objectives while external fit aligns HR practices with the external environment. The external fit exhibits a more precise fit between quality policy and assertive performance HRM practices (Youndt,