CHAPTER 1 Changing Nature of Human Resource Management After you have read this chapter, you should be able to: ● Identify four major HR challenges currently facing organizations and managers. ● List and define each of the seven major categories of HR activities. ● Identify the three different roles of HR management. ● Discuss the three dimensions associated with HR management as a strategic business contributor. ● Explain why HR professionals and operating managers must view HR management as an interface. ● Discuss why ethical issues and professionalism affect HR management as a career field. HR TRANSITIONS HR managers participate in developing strategies and ensure that human resource dimensions are considered. HR Management Contributes to Organizational Success More effective management of human resources (HR) increasingly is being seen as positively affecting performance in organizations, both large and small. A joint venture between General Electric and a Japanese company, GE Fanuc is a manufacturer of factory automation and control products. Headquartered in Virginia with 1,500 employees, the HR department primarily performed administrative support activities. But when Donald Borwhat, Jr., took over as Senior Vice President of Human Resources, he and his staff began by restructuring and decentralizing the HR entity so that each functional area of the company has an HR manager assigned to it. The HR managers were expected to be key contributors to their areas by becoming knowledgeable about the business issues faced by their business functional units. Today, HR managers participate in developing business strategies and ensure that human resource dimensions are considered. For instance, the HR manag...
