Human Resource Management In The 21st Century Case Study

The Functions of Human Resource Management in the 21st Century to Attain Competitive Advantage

Ripsy Dhar Hakeem (Lecturer, Faculty of Management, IIBM College of Hotel Management, Pune, India)

Abstract

This article reports on human resource functions and activities in the 21st century and how it should assist organizations to maintain their competitive advantage. By adding value to the organization in which it exists, HR can secure its place for the future. Global organizations are being forced to become more competitive. Globalization of markets, changing customer demands and increasing product-market competition, people and the way they are managed acquire greater importance in the 21st century. Globalized human resource management (GHRM)

Organizations with global presence are being forced to become more competitive and responsive to changes in technology that enable new approaches and expansion, in an effort to attain their competitive advantage. Zanko (2003) includes all of the above mentioned factors and says that they contribute to the ever-changing environment in which business operates and explains that an underlying theme embedded within the HRM trends/issues is that of ‘Change’. HR needs to embrace this change by ensuring that the business has the right kind of people with the much required knowledge, skills and abilities, and also needs to create a culture that contributes positively towards change. The fact cannot be ruled out that it is HR’s responsibility to ensure that employees feel valued and important to the company. Broken psychological contracts can cause organizational problems such as loss of trust, anger and litigation. By ensuring that the psychological contract between employees and employers is a positive one, which caters to both employee and management needs, HR helps the organization to overcome any negative feelings which may come from employees arising out of

In order to select the cream of talented people out of the whole pool, it is extremely important for 21century managers to broaden their view of judging people on the basis of their origin, culture, values, ethnicity and