Let us look at the Nature & Role of Personnel Management in HR.
Nature of Personnel Management
- Personnel management includes the function of employment, development and compensation- These functions are performed primarily by the personnel management in consultation with other departments.
- Personnel management is an extension to general management. It is concerned with promoting and stimulating a competent work force to make their fullest contribution to the concern.
- Personnel management exist to advice and assist the line managers in personnel matters. Therefore, the personnel department is a staff department of an organization.
- Personnel management lays emphasize on action rather than making lengthy schedules, plans, and work methods. The problems and grievances of people at work can be solved more effectively through rationale personnel policies.
- It is based on human orientation. It tries to help the workers to develop their potential fully to the concern.
- It also motivates the employees through it’s effective incentive plans so that the employees provide fullest co-operation.
- Personnel management deals with human resources of a concern. In context to human resources, it manages both individual as well as blue- collar workers.
Role of Personnel Manager
Personnel manager is the head of personnel department. He performs both managerial and operative functions of management. His role can be summarized as :
- Personnel manager provides assistance to top management- The top management are the people who decide and frame the primary policies of the concern. All kinds of policies related to personnel or workforce can be framed out effectively by the personnel manager.
- He advices the line manager as a staff specialist- Personnel manager acts like a staff advisor and assists the line managers in dealing with various personnel matters.
- As a counsellor,- As a counsellor, personnel manager attends problems and grievances of employees and guides them. He tries to solve them in best of his capacity.
- Personnel manager acts as a mediator- He is a linking pin between management and workers.
- He acts as a spokesman- Since he is in direct contact with the employees, he is required to act as representative of organization in committees appointed by government. He represents company in training programmes.
Practice Questions
Q1. Which of the following is NOT a function of personnel management?
a) Recruitment
b) Selection
c) Marketing
d) Training
Correct Answer: c) Marketing
Q2. Which of the following is an advantage of internal recruitment?
a) Brings new ideas and perspectives to the organization
b) Reduces training costs
c) Increases diversity within the organization
d) Increases the likelihood of hiring someone who is a good fit for the organization
Correct Answer: d) Increases the likelihood of hiring someone who is a good fit for the organization
Q3. Which of the following is a disadvantage of external recruitment?
a) Can be more expensive than internal recruitment
b) Can be time-consuming
c) Can lead to resentment among current employees
d) Can result in a lack of diversity within the organization
Correct Answer: a) Can be more expensive than internal recruitment
Q4. Which of the following is an example of a non-monetary reward?
a) A bonus
b) A promotion
c) A flexible work schedule
d) Stock options
Correct Answer: c) A flexible work schedule
Q5. Which of the following is NOT a step in the performance appraisal process?
a) Goal-setting
b) Performance feedback
c) Employee discipline
d) Performance review
Correct Answer: c) Employee discipline
