This book is a pioneering work that explores and maps out the ideological evolution of HRM research and practices, with a particular focus on our contemporary era of multinational corporations.

This book is a pioneering work that explores and maps out the ideological evolution of HRM research and practices, with a particular focus on our contemporary era of multinational corporations.

Human resource departments are key components in the people management system of nearly every medium-to-large organization in the industrial world. They provide a wide range of essential services relating to employees, including recruitment, compensation, benefits, training, and labor relations. A century ago, however, before the concept of human resource management had been invented, the supervision and care of employees at even the largest companies were conducted without written policies or formal planning, and often in harsh, arbitrary, and counterproductive ways. How did companies such as United States Steel manage a workforce of 160,000 employees at dozens of plants without a specialized personnel or industrial relations department? What led some of these organizations to introduce human resources practices at the end of the nineteenth century? How were the earliest personnel departments structured and what were their responsibilities? And how did the theory and implementation of human resources management evolve, both within industry and as an academic field of research and teaching? In Managing the Human Factor, Bruce E. Kaufman chronicles the origins and early development of human resource management (HRM) in the United States from the 1870s, when the Labor Problem emerged as the nation's primary domestic policy concern, to 1933 and the start of the New Deal. Through new archival research, an extensive review and synthesis of the historical and contemporary literatures, and case studies illustrating best (and worst) practices during this period, Kaufman identifies the fourteen ideas, events, and movements that led to the creation of specialized HRM departments in the late 1910s, as well as their further growth and development into strategic business units in the welfare capitalism period of the 1920s. The research presented in this book not only uncovers many new aspects of the early development of personnel and industrial relations but also challenges central parts of the contemporary interpretation of the concept and evolution of HRM. Rich with insights on both the present and past of human resource management, Managing the Human Factor will be widely regarded as the definitive account of the early history of employee management in American companies and a must-read for all those interested in the indispensable function of managing people in organizations.

Examining the development of the human resources profession in America since the 1940s, this history discusses the vital role the industry has played in shaping American labor policies and explores the impact of the Society for Human Resource Management throughout the years. Chronicling many of the industry’s most important developments, including the creation of the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Labor, the establishment of national wage and hour laws, and the passing of the Medicare Act, this fascinating account places these changes in the context of world events, discusses the important role human resources plays in American business, and considers the future of human resources over the next 60 years.

Essay from the year 2002 in the subject Sociology - Work, Profession, Education, Organisation, grade: Grade A, University of Manchester (Institute for Development Policy and Management), language: English, abstract: When the flexible concept of HRM emerged in the 1980s, in the times of Thatcherism and Reaganomics, it "could not help but look more desirable than personnel management" (Hope-Hailey). The attractiveness of the theory of managing personnel led to a proliferation of HRM language. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen if there is more to HRM than only a new and shining rhetoric. A number of authors stress the difficulties of identifying clear differences between personnel management and HRM, and maintain that the most obvious change is a "re-labelling process". Torrington agrees that "a change of label" is obvious, though one cannot be sure that the content differentiates to any extent. However, the new terminology may at least rid personnel management from its unfavourable welfare image and other negative connotations and thus, save the ailing function of managing personnel from marginalisation. Accordingly, some HR academics maintain that new labels on old bottles may have their uses, even if it is only for marketing purposes. Furthermore, a valuable contribution of HRM is to direct the attention to regarding people as the key resource of organisations and lending the management of personnel increased importance. In this essay, the similarities and differences between personnel and HR management are analysed with regard to their theoretical approaches as well as their practical implementation. Before sketching the similarities and differences in some detail, two different models of HRM, the 'soft' and the 'hard' approach, will be introduced. Finally, the question will be examined if HRM models are manipulative and exploitative, and a conclusion will summarise the results briefly.

Sixty-three stellar academics, consultants, and practitioners look at the future of human resources The follow-up to the bestselling Tomorrow's HR Management (978-0-471-19714-0), this book presents an international panel of expert contributors who offer their views on the state of HR and what to expect in the future. Topics covered include HR as a decision science, understanding and managing people, creating and adapting organizational culture, the effects of globalization, collaborative ventures, and investing in the next generation. Like its bestselling predecessor before it, The Future of Human Resource Management offers the very best thinking on the future of HR from the most respected leaders in the field.