Effective organizations are not build merely on investment and returns but more on the quality of the workforce, its commitment to the organizational goals and investments made to attract, train and retain superior human capital. Human Resources (HR) constitute the most valuable asset in the context of development. Relative performances of nations, of regions of economy, of sectors of industry as well as of corporate enterprises are critically linked to quality of human contribution. The degree to which HR function has undergone a change over the past decades gives the impression that; there is apparently no saturation point for the growth of the profession. Today, every additional person, with effective skills and competencies, means additional profit. Earlier companies employed ‘hands.’ Obviously hands have limited productive potential. Today a company recruits people, it employs additional minds, and a creative mind has unlimited profit potential. Thus there is a qualitative difference in the field of HR between the industrial age and knowledge age. In industrial age HR was one of the numerous functions amongst manifold operations. In knowledge age, HR is at the heart of business. Every successful business leader in the knowledge age is a successful human resources manager.
There are three meanings attached to the concept of HRM:-
In the first place, persons working in an organization are regarded as a valuable resource, implying that there is a need to invest time and effort in their development;
Secondly, they are human resources which mean that they have their own special characteristics and, therefore, cannot be treated like material resources. The approach focuses on the need to humanize organizational life and bring in human values in the organization; and
Thirdly, human resources do not merely focus on employees as individuals, but also on other social realities, units and processes in the organization. These include the role or the job a person has in the organization, the dyadic unit, (consisting of the person and his superior), the various teams in which people work, inter-team processes, and the entity of the total organization.
There are some basic assumptions about human resources management. The important assumptions of HRM are as follows:
The members of an organization are reservoirs of untapped resources.
There is a scope for unlimited development of these resources.
It is more in the nature of self-development than development thrust from outside.
The organization also undergoes development with the overall benefits along with the development of its members.
The organization further develops a culture in which utmost emphasis is placed on harmonious superior-subordinate relations, teamwork, alliance among different groups of individuals, open communication, and above all, amalgamation of the goals of the organization with the needs of the employees.
Top management takes the initiative for HRM, formulates necessary plans and strategies, and creates an overall climate and support for its implementation.
SCOPE OF MBA (HUMAN RESOURCE) IN INDIA
MBA (HR) professionals in human resources often get jobs in a variety of corporate positions related to human resource management. As Human Resource is the most important part of any organization they also act as
Counsellors,
Offering assistance to employees to deal with personal issues.
HR professionals have a wide variety of responsibilities, including –
Hiring (recruitment and selection) new employees,
Dealing with labour disputes,
Training and development of employees,
Compensation policies,
Benefit programs,
Union and labour relations.
Grievance handling
Designing and implementing performance management systems
Motivation and Leadership
Importance of MBA in Human Resource
An MBA in HR teaches as how to build solid foundation of people in an organization, by managing them, delegating their duties and keeping them in harmony. HR plays an integral role in sourcing and retaining talents, which helps organization grow and prosper. Hence, organisations require talented students with management degrees especially in HR who are trained and better capable of to take on the challenge of building the best human resource talents for the organisation. MBA course in HR inculcates in students people management skill, good communication skill, skill to identify talent, positive attitude and rational approach in solving problems.
Career Opportunities for MBA (HR)
Earning MBA degree in Human Resources can lead students to tremendous productive careers. They can find management and executive positions by getting MBA degrees in this field of specialization In HR profession a professional may have a career that offers good working conditions, excellent remuneration, good career growth opportunities and rewarding work. Every organization whether large and medium keeps a fully functional HRM/HRD department managed by professionals who are expert in HR. With qualification in HR a person may be part of such a team. Lots of companies including Public Sector companies recruit Management Trainees in various management fields at different levels in the organization in executive cadre for grooming them into professional managers. This includes management trainees in HR as well. In public sector banks HR professionals are recruited as specialist officers. The Public Sector Banks have the huge potential/scope for HR professionals. The HR profession is still fighting for its proper recognition in the banking industry whereas it is well established in Public Sector Units.
Professionals who are interested in a career in consulting may join HR consultancy firm or as a management consultant or a freelancer consultancy. There are many placement and recruitment agencies which offer good opportunities for HR professionals. The job here would be to understand manpower requirements of their client organizations and finding suitable candidates matching these requirements. So they try to bridge the gap between demand and supply of human resources.
If a candidate is interested in academics then there are opportunities to teach HR related subjects at various colleges, business schools as well as in Indian and Foreign Universities. There are opportunities for candidates to build a career in research as well. Trainees in HR subjects are in great demand. Their role is considered important in making employees motivated, developing managerial and leadership competencies and teaching soft skills like communication, business etiquettes etc. With knowledge, experience and expertise in HR one may work as a coach, mentor or counsellor also. In social and non-governmental organizations, there is a good demand for HR professionals. Software companies are in need of HR domain experts. Thus job opportunities for MBA (HR) professionals are varied and exciting. HR is a key component of an organization’s senior and top management team. No corporate policy can be complete without involvement from HR. The strategic HR plays a very vital role in strategic alliances at corporate levels and in mergers & acquisitions.
Dr. Preeti Yadav
Assistant Prof.
Amity Business School
Amity University Rajasthan