Staffing – Written by Harshi Singhal

Staffing is that part of the process of management which is concerned with making available, utilizing and maintaining a satisfactory workforce. Staffing means appointing competent persons required in the organization. It is important to keep the posts filled for a long time by persistent efforts so that it is easier to achieve the goals of the organization.

Characteristics of Staffing

Staffing is an integral part of human resource management. Staffing is appointing the capable persons to work in the organization. It is people centered as all the activities performed- recruitment, selection, training and development, promotion etc are done by human beings only. Staffing is a continuous process performed by every manager at all managerial levels. Staffing is in itself a major function of management. Staffing is affected by the internal and external environment. Internal management includes policies and procedures connected with the employees inside the organization like promotion, transfer etc. The external environment affects the enterprise from outside the organization in the form of government policies. Staffing deals with present and future requirements of the organization. The people working in the enterprise keeps on changing on account of retirement, death etc. so staffing fills the needs for future employees.

Process of Staffing

The process of staffing includes the following steps:

1. Estimating Manpower Requirements

The manpower requirement of the organization is assessed. At the time of determining the number of persons required the possibilities regarding promotion, retirement, resignation etc are taken into consideration.

2. Recruitment

Recruitment is a positive process of searching for the prospective employees to apply for a particular job in the organization. It involves inviting applications for the vacancies.

3. Selection

Under the process of selection, competent applicants are selected out of the large pool of applicants. It must be seen that the ability of the candidate and the nature of the job must match.

4. Placement and Orientation

Placement means putting the right selected person at the right place in the organization. Under orientation the employee is given a brief presentation about the company and is introduced to his job, policies, existing employees etc.

5. Training and Development

Training and Development are imparted to the employees so that their efficiency and effectiveness is increased.

6. Performance Appraisal

The capability of the employee is judged, his actual work performance is compared with the work assigned to him.

7. Promotion and Career Planning

It includes the process through which the employees get a better salary, status, position, etc. Employees get promoted to higher posts on the basis of their capabilities.

8. Compensation

Employees should be given fair compensation for their contribution to the organization. The deserving employees should be given incentives so that they can be motivated and work towards the betterment of the organization.

Staffing should be done properly because it has long-lasting effects on the organization.
It must be ensured that the assets which walk out of the door each evening should come back the next morning.

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