Human Resources Management Overview
HRM/300 – Fundamentals of Human Resource Management
Week 1 –

Human Resource Management
Human Resource Management is described as the department of an organization that is responsible for recruiting, training, motivating, and retaining employees. Although these are the main functions of Human Resources, other functions fall under the Human Resource umbrella. Over the years, the Human Resources department has evolved by adding many more functions to their department, such as compensation, benefits, performance management, and evaluation. No longer is the Human Resources department just for hiring, training, promoting, or terminating. There are several new privacy laws such as HIPPA, that the Human Resources department ensures that the company compliance. Another common misunderstanding of HRM, is the function there is for hiring, disciplining for violations that go against company policy, and for terminating employment. While these functions are part of the responsibilities of Human Resources, there is a much broader scope within an organization.
Primary Function of Human Resource Management is to manage the organization’s employees. Employees are the most valuable asset in an organization. Machines, technology, and the best products and services would not exist without the human assets. “People—not buildings, equipment, or brand names—make a company” (DeCenzo & Robbins, 2007. p. 32). Expanding on the primary function of HRM involves four separate main functions of staffing, training and development, motivation, and maintenance.
Staffing function is more involved than just recruiting. The human resources department must first engage in planning and collecting analysis of the position and the skills, knowledge and abilities required for the position. HR cannot successfully recruit qualified applicants “without