Human Resource Management And Technical Change

What role do human resource managers play in the processes of technical change in organizations? What opportunities or constraints are presented by different dimensions of technical change? How does technical change affect such issues as job design, supervision, total quality management, team-working, increased flexibility, skills training and employee involvement? In addressing these central themes and debates, this book provides a systematic analysis of the relations between technical change and human resource management (HRM). The contributors draw on research and case studies to clearly demonstrate that effective technical change in organizations is integrally related to effective HRM - as much by general and line managers as by specialist personnel managers.

This book focuses on the challenges and changes that new technologies bring to human resources (HR) of modern organizations. It examines the technological implications of the last changes taking place and how they affect the management and motivation of human resources belonging to these organizations. It looks for ways to understand and perceive how organizational HR, individually and as a team, conceptualize, invent, adapt, define and use organizational technology, as well as how they are constrained by features of it. The book provides discussion and the exchange of information on principles, strategies, models, techniques, methodologies and applications of human resources management and technological challenges and changes in the field of industry, commerce and services.

Technical change is a fact of modern organizational life, inevitably impacting, to a greater or lesser extent, upon the management of human resources. This book provides the first systematic analysis of the relations between technical change and HRM. Introductory chapters overview the central themes and debates. For example, what role do human resource managers play in the processes of technical change in organizations? What opportunities or constraints are presented by different dimensions of technical change? How does technical change affect such issues as job design, supervision, total quality management, team-working, increased flexibility, skills training and employee involvement? Succeeding contributions develop these themes in more detail, drawing on research and case studies across a range of organizations. They clearly demonstrate that effective technical change in organizations is integrally related to effective human resource mangement - as much by general and line managers as by specialist personnel managers. The book concludes with a synthesis of practical implications, both for the management of human resources and the implementation of technical change. Human Resource Management and Technical Change is an important contribution to a key topic. It will be essential reading for students and professionals in HRM//personnel management, organizational behaviour, organizational change and development, industrial relations and general management studies.

This exciting new book has grown from a need to provide practical advice to managers who deal with contemporary human resource and change issues. A crucial role of a manager is to respond in the best interests of the organisation and at the same time retain talent. Skill shortages and ageing populations in developed economies and the need for emerging economies to develop their workforce coincide to present managers with unique challenges. Human Resource Management and Change: A practising managers guide offers a timely overview of recent environmental and economic changes as depicted by the DELTA forces of change. These include demographic, environmental, legal, technical and attitudinal changes that are in part the product of globalization, and the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). The fundamental strategies for managing change and implementing human resource practices are clearly explained. End of chapter study guides further explain the topics of the chapters by providing case studies and review and discussion questions as well as further reading. The text reflects the everyday challenge managers face in a turbulent environment and focuses on providing practical guidelines to managers who may not have higher academic qualifications to help them manage people and change.

A survival guide to the human resources reengineeringrevolution Sparked by the new information technologies, a revolution is aboutto take place in the way human resource services are organized,staffed, and delivered. To prepare HR professionals for theseradical changes, Reengineering Human Resources provides acomprehensive guide to the basic concepts, processes, andtechnologies that are driving this change. In a clear, concisepresentation illustrated with numerous real-life examples, thisunique book gives the reader: * A detailed primer on the new information technologies, includingspecific human resource uses of the personal computer, interactiveinformation systems, CD-ROMs, personal digital assistants,networks, and more * An explanation of the basic concepts of reengineering, how it canbe implemented, and how to weigh costs and benefits--complete withwork flow graphics and spreadsheet templates * Detailed advice on staffing--the competencies HR professionalswill need in order to succeed and how employee competencies willchange with reengineered work * Specific cases of how human resource functions will be performedafter reengineering, including examples of recordkeeping,succession planning, performance management, training anddevelopment, employment practices, and more Human resources management is on the brink of radicaltransformation and the instrument of that transformation isinformation technology. Starting with this provocative premise, Reengineering HumanResources offers human resource professionals an eye-openingintroduction to the changes that are about to affect theorganization, staffing, and delivery of human resource services.For those who are prepared to take full advantage of the newtechnology, it will mean dramatic increases in productivity andimpressive decreases in cost, as well as vastly improved servicesand greater client satisfaction. In a real sense, the field ofhuman resources is undergoing a revolution. Written by management expert Lyle M. Spencer specifically for humanresource professionals, this book shows how new technologies,reengineered work processes, and retrained employees will bringabout this revolution. Although it assumes no technical expertise,Reengineering Human Resources brings the reader up to speed on thelatest hardware and software applications, including personalcomputers, interactive voice response systems, personal digitalassistants, CD-ROMs, expert systems, information networks, and muchmore. Not just a description of these changes, this important bookprovides complete "how-to" instructions for reengineering,including activity-based costing, value analysis, and work flowcharting. It describes the radical new approaches to organizingwork made possible by combining traditional work analysis methodswith advances in information technology. Specific cases ofreengineered human resource functions, including recordkeeping,employee health care benefits, performance management, training,compensation, and labor relations are illustrated with real-lifeexamples. An entire chapter describes the ways employeecompetencies will change in the reengineered organizations and jobsof the future. Information on implementing these changes explainshow to calculate both the costs and benefits ofreengineering. Timely, authoritative, and compelling, Reengineering HumanResources offers human resource professionals the opportunity toshape the future of their workplace and their profession.

With the increased pace of global, economic and technological development, change has become an inevitable feature of any organisation to survive in the competitive market. If it is a planned change process, the HR practitioner can use any of the existing general models or theories of change and use suggestive interventions to increase effectiveness and capability to change itself. When the magnitude of change is unpredictable or the degree of the organisational process or systems is unorganised, the existing models or practice of planned change is still in the formative stage, and there is room for continuous refinement and improvement. This book will bridge this gap in the current organisational development and change literature by benefiting the HR practitioner with six real case studies. The cases bring out the interventions adopted, key activities associated with the successful implementation of interventions and the critical role played by HR in achieving organisational effectiveness. This book captures the transformational journey of a diverse set of companies and weaves various dimensions into a common coherent framework for the field of HRM in Change Management. The case studies illustrate six powerful organisational experiences, listing the major activities contributing to effective change management from motivating change, vision, support from key stakeholders, transition management to organisational and HR commitment for implementation. By demonstrating the role of HR as a ‘change agent,’ this volume will be valuable to researchers, academics, managers and students in the fields of human resource management and change management.