Again, replying late....
Mike discusses the many reasons for HR to be in deep trouble waters, and
I'd like to reinforce some of the notions. HRM activities, if we pay
close attention to them, are for the most part based on MANAGEMENT. THey
look at processes and tools that are applied to resolve personnel
situtations in any organization. So, they are very good at designing
compensation packages that will "motivate" people to work harder, because
they believe in the typical theories of motivation. When one looks at
what HRM does, then it can be seen that the missing element in the whole
deal is the HUMAN. One of my friends also affirms that the element
RESOURCE is missing too, because most HRM people don't understand people
as contributors, but people as one more factor of production.
As we get into new organizational notions, such as OL, which require a
fully human approach to humans in the organizations, then HRM finds itself
lacking the skills to do that! Another good example is self-managed
teams. We see that this concept demands tha employees be trained in
decision making, including personnel decisions; demands more democratic
approaches and HRM is not really prepared for this. HRM will not easily
give away the control of some of the traditional activities that they
perform, such employment decisions. An additional problem to all of this
is what Mike discuesses as the lack of customer orientation. Many
organizations are learning that those activities designed to serve an
internal customer can be outsourced, to establish a more precise
supplier-customer relationship. HRM has seen some of its tasks being
outsource: payroll, insurance administration, executive recruitment, etc.
THe major challenge for HRM is probably to design and deliver its tasks,
contributions to the organization, in such way that they guarantee a
positive effect on the external customer. If they cannot do this, most of
teh consultants members of this list will probably see an increase in
business in the near future.
-- Ivan Blanco@bu4090.barry.edu