Human Resource Management: Bba/Mba
Human Resource Management: Bba/Mba
Human Resource Management: Bba/Mba
B B A/M B A
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CONTENTS PAGES
MODULE - I 5 - 17
MODULE - II 18 - 42
MODULE - III 43 - 46
MODULE - IV 47 - 57
MODULE - V 58 - 78
MODULE - 1
INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Human Resource Management is a relatively new approach to managing human beings in any
organisation. Human beings are considered as the key resource in this approach. Since an
organisation is a body of people, their acquisition, development of skills, motivation for higher levels
of attainments, as well as ensuring maintenance of their level of commitment are all significant
activities. All these activities fall in the domain of Human Resource Management.
Human Resource Management is a process, which consists of four main activities, namely,
acquisition, development, motivation, and maintenance of human resources.
Scott, Clothier and Spriegel have defined Human Resource Management as that branch of
management which is responsible on a staff basis for concentrating on those aspects of operations
which are primarily concerned with the relationship of management to employees and employees to
employees and with the development of the individual and the group.
Human Resource Management is responsible for maintaining good human relations in the
organisation. It is also concerned with development of individuals and achieving integration of goals
of the organisation and those of the individuals.
Northcott considers human resource management as an extension of general management, that
of prompting and stimulating every employee to make his fullest contribution to the purpose of a
business. Human resource management is not something that could be separated from the basic
managerial function. It is a major component of the broader managerial function.
According to Edwin B. Flippo, ―Human resource management is the planning, organising,
directing and controlling of the procurement, development, resources to the end that individual and
societal objectives are accomplished. This definition reveals that human resource (HR) management
is that aspect of management, which deals with the planning, organising, directing and controlling the
personnel functions of the enterprise.
FEATURES OF HRM
The features of human resource management can be highlighted as follows:
1. It is an inherent part of management: Human resource management is inherent in the process
of management. This function is performed by all the managers throughout the organisation rather
that by the personnel department only. If a manager is to get the best of his people, he must
undertake the basic responsibility of selecting people who will work under him.
2. It is a pervasive function: Human Resource Management is a pervasive function of
management. It is performed by all managers at various levels in the organisation. It is not a
responsibility that a manager can leave completely to someone else. However, he may secure
advice and help in managing people from experts who have special competence in personnel
management and industrial relations.
3. It is basic to all functional areas: Human Resource Management permeates all the functional
area of management such as production management, financial management, and marketing
management. That is every manager from top to bottom, working in any department has to
perform the personnel functions.
4. It is people centered: Human Resource Management is people centered and is relevant in all
types of organisations. It is concerned with all categories of personnel from top to the bottom of
the organisation. The broad classification of personnel in an industrial enterprise may be as
follows: (i) Blue-collar workers (i.e. those working on machines and engaged in loading,
unloading etc.) and white-collar workers (i.e. clerical employees), (ii) Managerial and non-
managerial personnel, (iii) Professionals (such as Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary,
Lawyer, etc.) and non-professional personnel.
5. It involves Personnel Activities or Functions: Human Resource Management involves
several functions concerned with the management of people at work. It includes manpower
planning, employment, placement, training, appraisal and compensation of employees. For the
performance of these activities efficiently, a separate department known as Personnel Department
is created in most of the organisations.
6. It is a continuous process: Human Resource Management is not a “one shot” function. It must
be performed continuously if the organisational objectives are to be achieved smoothly.
7. It is based on Human Relations: Human Resource Management is concerned with the
motivation of human resources in the organisation. The human beings can‘t be dealt with like
physical factors of production. Every person has different needs, perceptions and expectations.
The managers should give due attention to these factors. They require human relations skills to
deal with the people at work. Human relations skills are also required in training performance
appraisal, transfer and promotion of subordinates
Objectives of HRM
The primary objective of HRM is to ensure the availability of competent and willing
workforce to an organization. The specific objectives include the following:
1) Human capital: assisting the organization in obtaining the right number and types of employees to
fulfil its strategic and operational goals.
2) Developing organizational climate: helping to create a climate in which employees are encouraged
to develop and utilize their skills to the fullest and to employ the skills and abilities of the workforce
efficiently
3) Helping to maintain performance standards and increase productivity through effective job design;
providing adequate orientation, training and development; providing performance-related feedback;
and ensuring effective two-way communication.
4) Helping to establish and maintain a harmonious employer/employee relationship
5) Helping to create and maintain a safe and healthy work environment
6) Developing programs to meet the economic, psychological, and social needs of the employees and
helping the organization to retain the productive employees
7) Ensuring that the organization is in compliance with provincial/territorial and federal laws
affecting the workplace (such as human rights, employment equity, occupational health and safety,
employment standards, and labour relations legislation) to help the organization to reach its goals.
8) To provide organization with well-trained and well-motivated employees
9) To increase the employees satisfaction and self-actualization
10) To develop and maintain the quality of work life
11) To communicate HR policies to all employees.
12) To help maintain ethical polices and behaviour.
The above stated HRM objectives can be summarized under four specific objectives:
1) Societal Objectives: seek to ensure that the organization becomes socially responsible to the needs
and challenges of the society while minimizing the negative impact of such demands upon the
organization. The failure of the organizations to use their resources for the society’s benefit in ethical
ways may lead to restriction.
2) Organizational Objectives: it recognizes the role of HRM in bringing about organizational
effectiveness. It makes sure that HRM is not a standalone department, but rather a means to assist the
organization with its primary objectives. The HR department exists to serve the rest of the
organization.
3) Functional Objectives: is to maintain the department’s contribution at a level appropriate to the
organization’s needs. Human resources are to be adjusted to suit the organization’s demands. The
department’s value should not become too expensive at the cost of the organization it serves.
4) Personnel Objectives: it is to assist employees in achieving their personal goals, at least as far as
these goals enhance the individual’s contribution to the organization. Personal objectives of
employees must be met if they are to be maintained, retained and motivated. Otherwise employee
performance and satisfaction may decline giving rise to employee turnover.
Importance of HRM
Human Resource Management has a place of great importance. According to Peter F. Drucker,
―The proper or improper use of the different factors of production depends on the wishes of the
human resources. Hence, besides other resources human resources need more development. Human
resources can increase cooperation but it needs proper and efficient management to guide it.
Importance of personnel management is in reality the importance of labour functions of personnel
department which are indispensable to the management activity itself. Because of the following
reasons human resource management holds a place of importance.
1.It helps management in the preparation adoption and continuing evolution of personnel
programmes and policies.
Human Resource Management 6
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American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) conducted fairly an exhaustive study in this
field and identified nine broad areas of activities of HRM.
These are given below:
a) Human Resource Planning: The objective of HR Planning is to ensure that the organization has
the right types of persons at the right time at the right place. It prepares human resources inventory
with a view to assess present and future needs, availability and possible shortages in human resource.
Thereupon, HR Planning forecast demand and supplies and identify sources of selection. HR
Planning develops strategies both long-term and short-term, to meet the man-power requirement.
b) Design of Organization and Job: This is the task of laying down organization structure,
authority, relationship and responsibilities. This will also mean definition of work contents for each
position in the organization. This is done by “job description”. Another important step is “Job
specification”. Job specification identifies the attributes of persons who will be most suitable for each
job which is defined by job description.
c) Selection and Staffing: This is the process of recruitment and selection of staff. This involves
matching people and their expectations with which the job specifications and career path available
within the organization.
d) Training and Development: This involves an organized attempt to find out training needs of the
individuals to meet the knowledge and skill which is needed not only to perform current job but also
to fulfil the future needs of the organization.
e) Organizational Development: This is an important aspect whereby “Synergetic effect” is
generated in an organization i.e. healthy interpersonal and inter-group relationship within the
organization.
f) Compensation and Benefits: This is the area of wages and salaries administration where wages
and compensations are fixed scientifically to meet fairness and equity criteria. In addition labour
welfare measures are involved which include benefits and services.
g) Employee Assistance: Each employee is unique in character, personality, expectation and
temperament. By and large each one of them faces problems every day. Some are personal some are
official. In their case he or she remains worried. Such worries must be removed to make him or her
more productive and happy.
h) Union-Labour Relations: Healthy Industrial and Labour relations are very important for
enhancing peace and productivity in an organization. This is one of the areas of HRM.
i) Personnel Research and Information System: Knowledge on behavioral science and industrial
psychology throws better insight into the workers expectations, aspirations and behaviour.
Advancement of technology of product and production methods have created working environment
which are much different from the past. Globalization of economy has increased competition many
fold. Science of ergonomics gives better ideas of doing a work more conveniently by an employee.
Thus, continuous research in HR areas is an unavoidable requirement. It must also take special care
changes in environment if they do not update themselves some of the important challenges which
might be faced by the managers in the management of people in business and industry are discussed
below:
1. Increasing Size of Workforce: The size of organisations is increasing. A large number of
multinational organisations have grown over the years. The number of people working in the
organisation has also increased. The management of increased workforce might create new problems
and challenges as the workers are becoming more conscious of their rights.
2. Increase in Education Level: The governments of various countries are taking steps to
eradicate illiteracy and increase the education level of their citizens. Educated consumers and workers
will create very tough task for the future managers.
3. Technological Advances: With the changes coming in the wake of advanced technology,
new jobs are created and many old jobs become redundant. There is a general apprehension of
immediate unemployment. In the competitive world of today, industry cannot hope to survive for
long with old technology. The problem, of unemployment resulting from modernisation will be
solved by properly assessing manpower needs and training of redundant employees in alternate skills.
4. Changes in Political Environment: There may be greater Government‘s interference in
business to safeguard the interests of workers, consumers and the public at large. Government‘s
participation in trade, commerce and industry will also pose many challenges before management.
The Government may restrict the scope of private sector in certain areas in public interest. It does not
mean chances of co-operation between the Government and private sector are ruled out. In fact, there
will be more and more joint sector enterprises.
5. Increasing Aspirations of Employees: Considerable changes have been noted in the
worker of today in comparison to his counterpart of 1950s. The workers are becoming more aware of
their higher level needs and this awareness would intensify further in the future workers.
6. Changing Psychosocial System: In future, organisations will be required to make use of
advanced technology in accomplishing their goals while satisfying human needs. In the traditional
bureaucratic model, the organisations were designed to achieve technical functions with a little
consideration given to the psychosocial system. But future management would be required to ensure
effective participation of lower levels in the management of the organisation system.
7. Computerised Information System: In the past, the automation of manufacturing
processes had a major effect upon the systems of production, storage, handling and packaging, etc.
More recently, there has been and in the future there will be the impact of revolutionary computerised
information system on management. This revolutionary development would cover two primary areas
of personnel management which are as follows : (a) The use of electronic computers for the collection
and processing of data, and (b) The direct application of computers in the managerial decision making
process.
8. Mobility of Professional Personnel: Organisations will expand the use of “boundary
agents” whose primary function will be achieving coordination with the environment. One interesting
fact will be an increase in the mobility of various managerial and professional personnel between
organisations. As individuals develop greater technical and professional expertise, their services will
be in greater demand by other organisations in the environment.
9. Changes in Legal Environment: Many changes are taking place in the legal framework
within which the industrial relations systems in the country are now functioning. It is the duty of the
human resource or personnel executive to be aware of these changes and to bring about necessary
adjustments within the organisations so that greater utilisation of human resources can be achieved.
This, indeed, is and would remain a major challenge for the personnel executive.
10. Management of Human Relations: On the ‘industrial relations’ front, things are not
showing much improvement even after so many efforts by the government in this direction. Though a
large number of factors are responsible for industrial unrest but a very significant cause is the growth
of multi unions in industrial complexes having different political affiliations. Under the present
conditions, it appears that inter-union rivalries would grow more in the coming years and might
create more problems in the industry. Management of human relations in the future will be more
complicated than it is today. Many of the new generation of employees will be more difficult to
motivate than their predecessors. This will be in part the result of a change in value systems coupled
with rising educational levels.
New Role of Human Resource Management
Human Resource Management in the “New Millenium” has undergone a great revolution by
questioning the accepted practices and re-inventing the organisations as well as structures. Many
traditional practices have been thrown out. As an example, it can be seen that hierarchies are
vanishing and there is greater emphasis on flat organisations. It means a great deal of specialisation
and skills. It also means upgrading the norms and standards of work as well as performance. The new
role of human resource management is much more strategic than before.
Some of the new directions of the role of HRM can be summed up as follows:
1. A Facilitator of Change: To carry people through upheaval requires the true management
of human resources.
2. An Integrated Approach to Management: Rather than being an isolated function, human
resource is regarded as a core activity, one which shapes a company‘s values. In particular, this can
have an impact on customer service.
3. A Mediator: Establishing and balancing the new and emerging aspirations and
requirements of the company and the individual.
Functions of a Human Resource Manager
A human resource manager, charged with fulfilling the objectives of an organisation, should
be a leader with high intellectual powers, a visionary and a philosopher who provides the initiative to
shape the future in terms of leading the human beings in an organisation towards more prosperous
and progressive policies.
1. As an Intellectual: The basic skill in the human resource field as compared to
technologists or financial experts is the skill to communicate, articulate, understand and above all, to
be an expert when it comes to putting policies and agreements in black and white. The personnel
man’s skill lies in his command over the language. A personnel man has to deal with employees and
he must possess the skills of conducting fruitful and systematic discussions and of communicating
effectively. He should also be in a position to formulate principles and foresee the problems of the
organisation. This means that he would require the mental ability to deal with his people in an
intelligent manner as well as to understand what they are trying to say.
2. As an Educator: It is not enough that a human resource man has command-over the
language, which, however, remains his primary tool. He should be deeply interested in learning and
also in achieving growth. Basically, human beings like to grow and realise their full potential. In
order to harmonise the growth of individuals with that of the organisation, a personnel administrator
must not only provide opportunities for his employees to learn, get the required training and
assimilate new ideas but also he himself should be a teacher. A personnel man who simply pushes
files and attends labour courts for conciliation purposes and other rituals of legal procedure for the
settlement of industrial disputes is not a personnel administrator of the future.
3. As a Discriminator: A human resource administrator must have the capacity to
discriminate between right and wrong, between that which is just and unjust and merit and non-merit.
In other words, he should be a good judge when he sits on a selection board, a fair person when he
advises on disciplinary matters and a good observer of right conduct in an organisation.
4. As an Executive: The human resource man must execute the decisions of the management
and its policies with speed, accuracy and objectivity. He has to streamline the office, tone up the
administration and set standards of performance. He has to coordinate the control functions in relation
to the various other divisions and, in doing so he should be in a position to bring unity of purpose and
direction in the activities of the personnel department. He must ask relevant questions and not be
merely involved in the office routine whereby the status quo is maintained. He should have the
inquisitiveness to find out causes of delay, tardy work and wasteful practices, and should be keen to
eliminate those activities from the personnel functions which have either outlived their utility or are
not consistent with the objectives and purposes of the organisation.
5. As a Leader : Being basically concerned with people or groups of people, and being placed
in the group dynamics of various political and social functions of an organisation, a Human resource
man must not shirk the role of leadership in an organisation. He, by setting his own example and by
working towards the objectives of sound personnel management practices, must inspire his people
and motivate them towards better performance. He should resolve the conflicts of different groups
and build up teamwork in the organisation.
6. As a Humanist: Deep faith in human values and empathy with human problems, especially
in less developed countries, are the sine qua non for a Human resource man. He has to deal with
people who toil at various levels and partake of their joys and sorrows. He must perform his functions
with sensitivity and feeling.
7. As a Visionary: While every leading function of an organisation must evolve its vision of
the future, the primary responsibility for developing the social organisation towards purposive and
progressive action falls on the personnel man. He should be a thinker who sets the pace for policy-
making in an organisation in the area of human relations and should gradually work out new patterns
of human relations management consistent with the needs of the organisation and the society. He
must ponder on the social obligations of the enterprise, especially if it is in the public sector, where
one has to work within the framework of social accountability. He should be in close touch with
socio-economic changes in the country. He should be able to reasonably forecast future events and
should constantly strive to meet the coming challenges.
MODULE - II
HUMAN RESOURCE PLANNING
Introduction
Human Resource Planning is concerned with the planning the future manpower requirements are the
organisation. Human Resource manager ensures that the company has the right type of people in the
right number at the right time and place, who are trained and motivated to do the right kind of work at
the right time. Obviously, human resource planning primarily makes appropriate projections for
future manpower needs of the organisation envisages plan for developing the manpower to suit the
changing needs of the organisation from time to time, and foresees how to monitor and evaluate the
future performance. It also includes the replacement plans and managerial succession plans. Human
Resource planning is the process by which a management determines how an organisation should
move from its current manpower position to its desired manpower position. Through planning a
management strives to have the right number and the right kinds of people at the right places, at the
right time, to do things which result in both the organisation and the individual receiving the
maximum long-range benefit.
Definitions of Human Resource Planning:
According to Wikstrom, Human Resource Planning consists of a series of activities, viz.,
(a) Forecasting future manpower requirements, either in terms of mathematical projections of trends
in the economic environment and developments in industry, or in terms of judgemental estimates
based upon the specific future plans of a company;
(b) Making an inventory of present manpower resources and assessing the extent to which these
resources are employed optimally;
(c) Anticipating manpower problems by projecting present resources into the future and comparing
them with the forecast of requirements to determine their adequacy, both quantitatively and
qualitatively; and
(d) Planning the necessary programmes of requirements, selection, training, development, utilisation,
transfer, promotion, motivation and compensation to ensure that future manpower requirements are
properly met.
Coleman has defined Human Resource Planning as “the process of determining manpower
requirements and the means for meeting those requirements in order to carry out the integrated plan
of the organisation”.
Human resource planning is a double-edged weapon. If used properly, it leads to the maximum
utilisation of human resources, reduces excessive labour turnover and high absenteeism; improves
productivity and aids in achieving the objectives of an organisation. Faultily used, it leads to
disruption in the flow of work, lower production, less job satisfaction, high cost of production and
constant headaches for the management personnel. Therefore, for the success of an enterprise, human
resource planning is a very important function, which can be neglected only at its own peril.
Objectives of HR Planning
The major objectives of Human Resource Planning in an organisation are to:
(i) ensure optimum use of human resources currently employed;
(ii) Avoid balances in the distribution and allocation of human resources;
(iii) assess or forecast future skill requirements of the organisation‘s overall objectives;
(iv) Provide control measure to ensure availability of necessary resources when required;
(v) Control the cost aspect of human resources;
(vi) Formulate transfer and promotion policies.
Steps in Human Resource Planning
Human resource planning refers to a process by which companies ensure that they have the
right number and kinds of people at the right place, at the right time; capable of performing diverse
jobs professionally. Planning the use of human resources is an important function in every
organisation. A rational estimate to various categories of personnel in the organisation is an important
aspect of human resource planning. HRP involves the following steps:
1. Analysis of Organisational Plans and Objectives: Human resource planning is a part of overall
plan of organisation. Plans concerning technology, production, marketing, finance, expansion and
diversification give an idea about the volume of future work activity. Each plan can further be
analysed into sub-plans and detailed programmes. It is also necessary to decide the time horizon
for which human resource plans are to be prepared. The future organisation structure and job
design should be made clear and changes in the organisation structure should be examined so as
to anticipate its manpower requirements.
2. Forecasting Demand for Human Resources: Human resource planning starts with the
estimation of the number and type of personnel required at different levels and in different
departments. The main steps involved in HRP process are (a) to determine and to identify present
and prospective needs of human resource, (b) to discover and recruit the required number of
persons. (c) to select the right number and type from the available people. (d) to hire and place in
the positions for which they are qualified, (e) to provide information to the selected people about
the nature of work assigned to them, (f) to Promote or to transfer as per the needs and the
performance of employees, (g) to denote if the employees are disinterested or their performance is
not up to the mark, (h) to terminate if they are not needed or their performance is below standard
and shows no hopes of improvement. It is the most crucial and critical area of HRD. This HRD
manager must pay attention to place right man to the right job through recruitment selection
Training and Placement of employees. This calls for the adoption of a systematic procedure to
complete recruitment and selection.
3. Forecasting Supply of Human Resources: One of the important areas of human resources
planning is to deal with allocation of persons to different departments depending upon the work-
load and requirements of the departments. While allocating manpower to different departments,
Recruitment
Recruitment means search of the prospective employee to suit the job requirements as represented by
job specification. It is the process of attracting people to apply for jobs in an organisation.
According to Edwin B. Flippo: “Recruitment is the process of searching for prospective employees
and stimulating them to apply for jobs in the organisation.”
Factors affecting Recruitment
The factors affecting recruitment can be classified as internal and external factors.
The internal factors are:
Wage and salary policies;
The age composition of existing working force;
Promotion and retirement policies;
Turnover rates;
The nature of operations involved the kind of personnel required;
The level and seasonality of operations in question;
Future expansion and reduction programmes;
Recruiting policy of the organisation;
Human resource planning strategy of the company;
Size of the organisation and the number of employees employed;
. Cost involved in recruiting employees, and finally;
Growth and expansion plans of the organisation.
The external factors are:
Supply and demand of specific skills in the labour market;
Company’s image perception of the job seekers about the company.
External cultural factors: Obviously, the culture may exert considerable check on
recruitment. For example, women may not be recruited in certain jobs in industry.
Economic factors: such as a tight or loose labour market, the reputation of the
enterprise in the community as a good pay master or otherwise and such allied
issues which determine the quality and quantity of manpower submitting itself for
recruitment.
Political and legal factors also exert restraints in respect of nature and hours of
work for women and children, and allied employment practices in the enterprise,
reservation of Job for SC, ST and so on.
Sources of Recruitment
The various sources of recruitment are generally classified as internal source and external
source.
(a) Internal Sources: This refers to the recruitment from within the company. The various internal
sources are promotion, transfer, past employees and internal advertisements.
3. Technical Differences: Recruitment techniques are not very intensive, and not require high skills.
As against this, in selection process, highly specialised techniques are required. Therefore, in the
selection process, only personnel with specific skills like expertise in using selection tests, conducting
interviews, etc., are involved.
4. Difference in Outcomes: The outcome of recruitment is application pool which becomes input for
selection process. The outcome of selection process is in the form of finalising candidates who will be
offered jobs.
Selection Procedure
1. Application Pool: Application pool built-up through recruitment process is the base for
selection process. The basic objective at the recruitment level is to attract as much worthwhile
applications as possible so that there are more options available at the selection stage.
2. Preliminary Screening and Interview: It is highly noneconomic to administer and handle all
the applicants. It is advantageous to sort out unsuitable applicants before using the further
selection steps. For this purpose, usually, preliminary interviews, application blank lists and
short test can be used. All applications received are scrutinised by the personnel department in
order to eliminate those applicants who do not fulfil required qualifications or work
experience or technical skill, his application will not be entertained. Such candidate will be
informed of his rejection.
(a) Biographical Data: Name, father’s name, data and place of birth, age, sex, nationality,
height, weight, identification marks, physical disability, if any, marital status, and number of
dependants.
(b) Educational Attainment: Education (subjects offered and grades secured), training
acquired in special fields and knowledge gained from professional/technical institutes or through
correspondence courses.
(c) Work Experience: Previous experience, the number of jobs held with the same or
other employers, including the nature of duties, and responsibilities and the duration of various
assignments, salary received, grades, and reasons for leaving the present employer.
(e) Other Items: Names and addresses of previous employers, references etc. An application
blank is a brief history sheet of an employee’s background and can be used for future reference, in
case needed.
4. Selection Tests: Many organisations hold different kinds of selection tests to know more about
the candidates or to reject the candidates who cannot be called for interview etc. Selection tests
normally supplement the information provided in the application forms. Such forms may contain
factual information about candidates.
A. Aptitude Tests: These measure whether an individual has the capacity or talent
ability to learn a given job if given adequate training. These are more useful for clerical and trade
positions.
C. Interest Tests: These determine the applicant’s interests. The applicant is asked
whether he likes, dislikes, or is indifferent to many examples of school subjects, occupations,
amusements, peculiarities of people, and particular activities.
D. Performance Tests: In this test the applicant is asked to demonstrate his ability
to do the job. For example, prospective typists are asked to type several pages with speed and
accuracy.
E. Intelligence Tests: This aim at testing the mental capacity of a person with
respect to reasoning, word fluency, numbers, memory, comprehension, picture arrangement, etc. It
measures the ability to grasp, understand and to make judgement.
F. Knowledge Tests: These are devised to measure the depth of the knowledge and
proficiency in certain skills already achieved by the applicants such as engineering, accounting etc.
H. Projective Tests: In these tests the applicant projects his personality into free
responses about pictures shown to him which are ambiguous.
5. Interview: An interview is a procedure designed to get information from a person and to assess his
potential for the job he is being considered on the basis of oral responses by the applicant to oral
inquiries by the interviewer. Interviewer does a formal in-depth conversation with the applicant, to
evaluate his suitability. It is one of the most important tools in the selection process. This tool is used
when interviewing skilled, technical, professional and even managerial employees. It involves two-
way exchange of information. The interviewer learns about the applicant and the candidate learns
about the employer.
Principles of Interviewing
To make it effective, an interview should be properly planned and conducted on ertain principles;
Edwin B. Flippo has described certain rules and principles of good interviewing to this end:
Provide proper surroundings. The physical setting for the interview should be both private and
comfortable.
The mental setting should be one of rapport. The interviewer must be aware of non-verbal
behaviour.
Plan for the interview by thoroughly reviewing job specifications and job descriptions.
Inform yourself as much as possible concerning the known information about the interviewee.
The interviewer should possess and demonstrate a basic liking and respect for people.
Make a decision only when all the data and information are available. Avoid decisions that are
based on first impressions.
Conclude the interview tactfully, making sure that the candidate leaves feeling neither too elated
nor frustrated.
Maintain some written record of the interview during or immediately after it.
Questions must be stated clearly to avoid confusion and ambiguity. Maintain a balance between
open and overtly structured questions.
The interviewer should make some overt sign to indicate the end of the interview.
6. Background Investigation: The next step in the selection process is to undertake an investigation
of those applicants who appear to offer potential as employees. This may include contacting former
employers to confirm the candidate’s work record and to obtain their appraisal of his or her
performance/ contacting other job-related and personal references, and verifying the educational
accomplishments shown on the application.
7. Physical Examination: After the selection decision and before the job offer is made, the
candidate is required to undergo physical fitness test. Candidates are sent for physical examination
either to the company’s physician or to a medical officer approved for the purpose. Such physical
examination provides the following information:
Whether the candidate’s physical measurements are in accordance with job requirements or
not?
Whether the candidate suffers from bad health which should be corrected?
Whether the candidate has health problems or psychological attitudes likely to interfere
with work efficiency or future attendance?
Whether the candidate is physically fit for the specific job or not?
8. Approval by Appropriate Authority: On the basis of the above steps, suitable candidates are
recommended for selection by the selection committee or personnel department. Though such a
committee or personnel department may have authority to select the candidates finally, often it has
staff authority to recommend the candidates for selection to the appropriate authority.
9. Final Employment Decision: After a candidate is finally selected, the human resource department
recommends his name for employment. The management or board of the company offers
employment in the form of an appointment letter mentioning the post, the rank, the salary grade, the
date by which the candidate should join and other terms and conditions of employment. Some firms
make a contract of service on judicial paper. Usually an appointment is made on probation in the
beginning. The probation period may range from three months to two years. When the work and
conduct of the employee is found satisfactory, he may be confirmed.
10. Evaluation: The selection process, if properly performed, will ensure availability of competent
and committed personnel. A period audit, conducted by people who work independently of the
human resource department, will evaluate the effectiveness of the selection process. The auditors will
do a thorough and the intensive analysis and evaluate the employment programme.
Orientation (Induction)
The introduction of the new employee to the job is known as induction. It is the process by which
new employees are introduced to the practices, policies and purposes of the organisation. Induction
follows placement and consists of the task of orienting or introducing the new employee to the
company, its policy and its position in the economy. Induction literally means helping the worker to
get or with his own environment. After an employee is assigned his job, it is necessary to introduce
him to his job situation, his associates in the job and the overall policies of the company.
In other words, it is a welcoming process-the idea is to welcome a newcomer, make him feel at home
and generate in him a feeling that his job, even though small, is meaningful and has significant
importance as part of the total organisation.
In the words of John M. Ivancevich, “Orientation orients, directs, and guides employees to
understand the work, firm, colleagues, and mission. It introduces new employees to the organisation,
and to his new tasks, managers, and work groups.”
Orientation is one component of the new employee socialization process. It is a process through
which a new employee is introduced to the organisation. The new employee is handed over a
rulebook, company booklets, policy manuals, progress reports and documents containing company
information which are informational in nature. It is responsibility of the human resource department
to execute the orientation programme.
4) Make the new employee feel ‘at home’ in the new environment
10) Establish a favourable attitude about the company in the minds of the employee.
Induction Process
There is no specific model of induction process. Each industry develops its own procedure as per its
requirements. Generally, an induction procedure involves the following basic steps:
1. Reporting for duty before the concerned head of the department at a certain place.
3. Introduction to the organizational head / branch head by the head of the department.
6. Providing information about the duties, responsibilities, rights, facilities, welfare measures, etc.
7. Supervisor clarifies the doubts of the new employee about the work.
2. Informal Induction Programme: Informal induction is not planned and is ad hock. New
employees learn through trial and error method. They get familiar with the work and work
environment by themselves. This induction type will make the stress on new employee at the very
beginning, because of his/her not knowing things at the operations. So in that case, new employee
may leave the organization at the beginning and then the organization may need to follow all the
process of recruiting and new employee to the organization. Also this method will create a large
number of errors making by new employee and then it may creates big losses to the organization.
Those are the disadvantages of informal induction program. The advantage of informal induction is,
if the new employee survived, then he/she may know the process by his/her experience, and the later
on errors may minimize. But at the beginning the vice verse thing of above advantage may creates
loses, if the new employee unable to survive at the organization. At the movements which employees
couldn’t survive, there could be see they are leaving organization at the beginning they have joined to
it. So this will creates high labour turn over too.
Placement
According to Pigors and Myers, “Placement consists in matching what the supervisor has
reason to think the new employee can do with what the job demands (job requirements), imposes (in
strain, working conditions, etc.), and offers (in the form of pay rate, interest, companionship with
other, promotional possibilities, etc.)” They further state that it is not easy to match all these factors
for a new worker who is still in many ways an unknown quantity. For this reason, the first placement
usually carries with it the status of probationer.
A few basic principles should be followed at the time of placement of an employee on the job.
These may be enumerated as below:
The job should be offered to the man according to his qualifications. The placement should neither
be higher nor lower than the qualifications.
The employee should be made conversant with the working conditions prevailing in the industry
and all things relating to the job. He should also be made aware of the penalties if he commits a
wrong.
Man should be placed on the job according to the requirements of the job. The job should not be
adjusted according to the qualifications or requirements of the man. Job first; man next, should be
the principle of placement.
The placement should be ready before the joining date of the newly selected person.
The placement in the initial period may be temporary as changes are likely after the completion
of training. The employee may be later transferred to the job where he can do better justice.
Significance of placement
TRAINING OF EMPLOYEES
Introduction
Training is an organised activity for increasing the knowledge and skills of people for a definite
purpose. It involves systematic procedures for transferring technical know-how to the employees so
as to increase their knowledge and skills for doing specific jobs with proficiency. In other words, the
trainees acquire technical knowledge, skills and problem solving ability by undergoing the training
programme. According to Edwin B. Flippo, “Training is the act of increasing the knowledge and
skills of an employee for doing a particular job”.
Objectives of Training
(i) To impart to new entrants the basic knowledge and skill they need for an intelligent performance
of definite tasks;
(ii) To assist employees to function more effectively in their present positions by exposing them
to the latest concepts, information and techniques and developing the skills, they will need in their
particular fields;
(iii) To build up a second line of competent officers and prepare them to occupy more responsible
positions;
(iv) To broaden the minds of senior managers by providing them with opportunities for an inter-
change of experiences within and outside with a view to correcting the narrowness of the outlook that
may arise from over-specialisation;
(v) To impart customer education for the purpose of meeting the training needs of Corporations
which deal mainly with the public. In a nutshell, the objectives of training are ―to Bridge the gap
between existing performance ability and desired performance.
Need and Importance of Training
1. Increasing Productivity: Instruction can help employees increase their level of performance
on their present job assignment. Increased human performance often directly leads to increased
operational productivity and increased company profit.
2. Improving Quality: Better informed workers are less likely to make operational mistakes.
Quality increases may be in relationship to a company product or service, or in reference to the
intangible organisational employment atmosphere.
3. Helping a Company Fulfil its Future Personnel Needs: Organisations that have a good
internal educational programme will have to make less drastic manpower changes and
adjustments in the event of sudden personnel alternations. When the need arises, organisational
vacancies can more easily be staffed from internal sources if a company initiates and maintains
and adequate instructional programme for both its non-supervisory and managerial employees.
4. Improving Organisational Climate: An endless chain of positive reactions results from a
well-planned training programme. Production and product quality may improve; financial incentives
Demerits:
It does not take in to account the ability and capacity of the workers so the skilful and more
capable workers who have higher production efficiency will demoralize.
organization. Indiscipline may prove to have detrimental effects on the morale and motivation of the
employees as well as on the organization as a whole.
Factors Responsible for Indiscipline
There are various socio-economic and cultural factors that play a role in creating indiscipline in an
organization. The important among them are:
1. Unfair labour practices
2. Wage differentials
3. Wrong work assignments
4. Defective grievance procedure
5. Payment of very low wages
6. Poor communication
7. Victimisation by management
8. Ineffective leadership.
Misconduct
An action or type of behaviour can be defined as misconduct if it is prejudicial to the interests
of the employer and other employees, inconsistent with the norms set for discharging duties, unsafe
or unfaithful to such a degree that it becomes incompatible to continue employer – employee
relationships.
Categories of Misconduct
Disciplinary acts of misconduct can be categorized on the basis of the severity of the consequences.
(i) Minor Contravention– results in few serious consequences. Example – negligence, minor
disobedience to rules, carelessness.
(ii) Major Contravention – Partially hinders the working of the organization. Example – lying,
cheating, stealing
(iii) Intolerable Offences – are of unlawful and severe nature which endanger employment
relationship.
Example – threat to use weapon, use of drugs on the job, smoking near inflammables.
Misconduct Stated In Model Standing Orders
Here is an illustrative list of acts constituting misconduct under Model Standing Orders Act ,
1946.
(i) Wilful insubordination or disobedience of any lawful and reasonable order , rule or regulation.
(ii) Refusal to work on a job or a machine which has been assigned to him.
(iii) Refusal to accept or reply to a charge sheet within the prescribed period of time.
(iv) Theft , fraud , or dishonesty in connection with the property of the company.
(v) Theft of another employee’s property inside the industrial area or company premises.
(vi) Causing willful damage to , or loss of , the employer’s goods or property.
(vii) Causing damage to a product in process or to any property.
(viii) Interference with , safety devices.
(ix) Non-observance of safety precautions and rules.
(x) Taking or giving a bribe or any illegal gratification.
(xii) Acceptance of gifts from subordinates.
(xiii) Habitual late coming.
(xiv) Absence from duty without leave.
(xv) Overstay when on leave without prior authorized permission.
(xvi) Entering or leaving , or attempting to enter or leave , the work premises except through
authorized entrance and exits.
Causes & Approaches Towards Disciplinary Action
Causes for Infringement of Discipline
The main reasons for breach of discipline in any organization may be stated under following
heads
(I) Causes Related To the Worker
(a) Illiteracy and low intellectual level of workers.
(b) Workers personal problems like their fears, hope, aspirations etc.
(c) Inborn tendencies of workers to flout rules.
(II) Causes Related To the Socio – Cultural Factors -
(a) Misunderstanding and rivalry among workers.
(b) Discrimination based on caste, colour, sex, place in imposing penalties.
(III) Causes Related To the Work Environment –
(a)Bad working conditions.
(b)Defective supervision
(c)Non-placement of right person on the right job.