HR meaning:

Hr functions: staffing, performance, change management, administration

A distinctive approach to managing people

Now… called HRM (Human Resource Management)

• has developed to be a specialist function

• Marchington and Wilkinson (2008), defines HRM as the ‘management of employment’

• Guest (1987) and Storey (1992), claim soft HRM ‘recognises employees as a resource worth investing in, and tends to focus on high commitment/high involvement human resource practices.’

• Boxall and Purcell (2008) regard HRM as ‘all those activities associated with the management of employment relationships in the firm.’

• CIPD (2015) defines: ‘HRM as a distinctive approach to managing people and delivering organisational objectives by HR professionals in collaboration with line managers.’

CIPD (2017) Viewpoint :

• Line managers are increasingly taking on many ‘traditional’ HR responsibilities. As HR professionals focus on the more strategic issues, line managers translate the policies into day-to-day practices.
• The fundamental paradox of line managers’ involvement in people management and development is that they’re expected to engage with and demonstrate consistency against the overall organisational policy, while at the same time tailoring their approach to individuals and teams.