The history of Human Resources Management (HRM) principles can be traced back to the primitive time. Knowledge of hunting, gathering, safety, and health was recorded passed down from one generation to another. Between 1000 and 2000 B.C. more advanced HRM functions began to develop. In 1115 B.C., an early version of employee screening tests was being used by the Chinese. Ancient Greek and Babylonian civilizations, ages before medieval times, established the apprentice system, another example of early HRM (HRM, n.d., para.4). Over the years, HRM has been known by different names, “from personnel to industrial relations to employee relations to human resources” (HRM, n.d., para.5). Human resource by far is the best title given for managing your most valuable resource, humans. During the industrial revolution the need for an organized form of HRM emerged as the manufacturing process evolved from the cotton gin to the factory assembly lines. Companies in the United States developed new recruitment methods of attracting and retaining their best workers, as result of the economic shift from agricultural based to industrial based. As a result of the industrial revolution HRM were needed to help immigrants adapt to their new jobs and the American way of life (HRM, n.d., para.6). Immigration increased considerably between the 1880s and 1940s, resulting in a stable flow of low skill and low cost employees. Due to the language barrier, managers face problems getting immigrant workers to accomplish routine task. (HRM, n.d., para.7). Technique used by early HRM incorporated the social welfare approach which focused on helping immigrants to learn English, find a home, and obtain health care. Additionally, these programs increase productivity by encouraged supervisory training (HRM, n.d., para.8). Unfortunately, not
