Contemporary Developments in people management Issues in the global context

Introduction

The best way to trace the development of human resources management is to look at it from the perspective of post 18^th century industrial revolution to the developments that have taken place today. Chimoga, (2014) a scholar that the same view and highlights the development of people from the post-industrial revolution and espouses  scientific management and its contribution and how it has evolved and progressed to human resources management though out the ages from times when people were abused in slave driven conditions to modern factory and work environments where people are valued and respected and considered as strategic partners to the company.

To understand the evolution of human resource management, it is important to first understand the definition of human resources and human resource management processes.  Human resources a term with which many organizations describe as the combination of traditionally administrative personnel functions with performance, employee relations and resource planning Sharma (2009, p 17). 

Human Resource Management (HRM) are practices are the policies and practices involved in carrying out the human resource aspects of managing position, including recruiting, screening, training, rewarding and appraising Dessler, (2005; p 4).  The shorter meaning of HRM is the act of managing the process of recruitment and selection, compensation and benefits as well as employees safety and health in an organization. Haslinda (2009, P. 1). 

Therefore, from the meanings suggested above, it is clear that changes in management practices come about as organizations seek new ways to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

Origins of Human Resource Management (HRM)

The origins of HRM can be traced back to the 18^th century in Western Europe and United States of America with the advent of Industrial Revolution. Which laid the basis for a new and complex industrial society. The period when the USA and Western Europe was shifting from agricultural economy to an industrial economy. 

In the historical context of HRM, the first two to be noted for classical management perspective began by Robert Owen, a British Industrial reformer and Charles Babbage an English Mathematician; they noted that workers were important resources in an organization and expressed concern for their personal welfare. Griffin Ricky (2007, pg 12).  

Being a mathematician, Babbage emphasized the division of labour because this would bring about specialization of employees which would result in perfect work. The division of labour aspect had a drawback that if an employee is down, then the station of work would also be down.

References

1. Chimoga, I.M., (2014) The Evolution Of Human Resource Management. Creso University, Zambia, 13 April 2014

2. Dessler, Garry(2005), Human Resource Management, 10^th ed. Pearson – Prentice Hall, USA

3. Griffin Ricky (2007), Principles of Management, Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, USA

4. Haslinda A, (2009), Evolving Terms of Human Reosurce Management and Development, A Journal of International Social Research, Vol 2/9, University Putra, Malaysia. (Reed, S, and  Myra L (2010), 
5. Employee and Labor Relation, Instructor’s Mannual – Evolution of Human Resource Management. 1800 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA. www.shrm.org/educatiob/hreducation accessed on 3rd April, 2018.