{"id":32,"date":"2014-08-18T16:06:34","date_gmt":"2014-08-18T16:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.candelalearning.com\/hrmanagement1xmaster\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=32"},"modified":"2014-10-05T02:21:13","modified_gmt":"2014-10-05T02:21:13","slug":"2-1-strategic-planning","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/hrmanagement\/chapter\/2-1-strategic-planning\/","title":{"raw":"2.1 Strategic Planning","rendered":"2.1 Strategic Planning"},"content":{"raw":"&nbsp;\r\n<div class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\"><span class=\"im_title-prefix\">2.1<\/span> Strategic Planning<\/h2>\r\n<div class=\"im_learning_objectives im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_n01\">\r\n<h3 class=\"im_title\">Learning Objectives<\/h3>\r\n<ol class=\"im_orderedlist\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_l01\">\r\n\t<li>Explain the differences been HRM and personnel management.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Be able to define the steps in HRM strategic planning.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\nIn the past, human resource management (HRM) was called the personnel department. In the past, the personnel department hired people and dealt with the hiring paperwork and processes. It is believed the first human resource department was created in 1901 by the National Cash Register Company (NCR). The company faced a major strike but eventually defeated the union after a lockout. (We address unions in Chapter 12 \"Working with Labor Unions\".) After this difficult battle, the company president decided to improve worker relations by organizing a personnel department to handle grievances, discharges, safety concerns, and other employee issues. The department also kept track of new legislation surrounding laws impacting the organization. Many other companies were coming to the same realization that a department was necessary to create employee satisfaction, which resulted in more productivity. In 1913, Henry Ford saw employee turnover at 380 percent and tried to ease the turnover by increasing wages from $2.50 to $5.00, even though $2.50 was fair during this time period.<span class=\"im_footnote\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-fn02_001\">Michael Losey, \u201cHR Comes of Age,\u201d <em class=\"im_emphasis\">HR Magazine<\/em>, March 15, 1998, accessed July 11, 2011, <a class=\"im_link\" href=\"http:\/\/findarticles.com\/p\/articles\/mi_m3495\/is_n3_v43\/ai_20514399\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/findarticles.com\/p\/articles\/mi_m3495\/is_n3_v43\/ai_20514399<\/a>.<\/span> Of course, this approach didn\u2019t work for long, and these large companies began to understand they had to do more than hire and fire if they were going to meet customer demand.\r\n\r\nMore recently, however, the personnel department has divided into human resource management and human resource development, as these functions have evolved over the century. HRM is not only crucial to an organization\u2019s success, but it should be part of the overall company\u2019s strategic plan, because so many businesses today depend on people to earn profits. Strategic planning plays an important role in how productive the organization is.\r\n<div class=\"im_table im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_t01\">\r\n\r\n<span class=\"im_title-prefix\">Table 2.1<\/span> Examples of Differences between Personnel Management and HRM\r\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th>Personnel Management Focus<\/th>\r\n<th>HRM Focus<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Administering of policies<\/td>\r\n<td>Helping to achieve strategic goals through people<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Stand-alone programs, such as training<\/td>\r\n<td>HRM training programs that are integrated with company\u2019s mission and values<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Personnel department responsible for managing people<\/td>\r\n<td>Line managers share joint responsibility in all areas of people hiring and management<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Creates a cost within an organization<\/td>\r\n<td>Contributes to the profit objectives of the organization<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\nMost people agree that the following duties normally fall under HRM. Each of these aspects has its own part within the overall strategic plan of the organization:\r\n<ol class=\"im_orderedlist im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_l02\">\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Staffing.<\/strong> Staffing includes the development of a strategic plan to determine how many people you might need to hire. Based on the strategic plan, HRM then performs the hiring process to recruit and select the right people for the right jobs. We discuss staffing in greater detail in Chapter 4 \"Recruitment\", Chapter 5 \"Selection\", and Chapter 6 \"Compensation and Benefits\".<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Basic workplace policies.<\/strong> Development of policies to help reach the strategic plan\u2019s goals is the job of HRM. After the policies have been developed, communication of these policies on safety, security, scheduling, vacation times, and flextime schedules should be developed by the HR department. Of course, the HR managers work closely with supervisors in organizations to develop these policies. Workplace policies will be addressed throughout the book.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Compensation and benefits.<\/strong> In addition to paychecks, 401(k) plans, health benefits, and other perks are usually the responsibility of an HR manager. Compensation and benefits are discussed in Chapter 6 \"Compensation and Benefits\" and Chapter 7 \"Retention and Motivation\".<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Retention.<\/strong> Assessment of employees and strategizing on how to retain the best employees is a task that HR managers oversee, but other managers in the organization will also provide input. Chapter 9 \"Successful Employee Communication\", Chapter 10 \"Managing Employee Performance\", and Chapter 11 \"Employee Assessment\" cover different types of retention strategies, from training to assessment.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Training and development.<\/strong> Helping new employees develop skills needed for their jobs and helping current employees grow their skills are also tasks for which the HRM department is responsible. Determination of training needs and development and implementation of training programs are important tasks in any organization. Training is discussed in great detail in Chapter 9 \"Successful Employee Communication\", including succession planning. Succession planning includes handling the departure of managers and making current employees ready to take on managerial roles when a manager does leave.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Regulatory issues and worker safety.<\/strong> Keeping up to date on new regulations relating to employment, health care, and other issues is generally a responsibility that falls on the HRM department. While various laws are discussed throughout the book, unions and safety and health laws in the workplace are covered in Chapter 12 \"Working with Labor Unions\" and Chapter 13 \"Safety and Health at Work\".<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nIn smaller organizations, the manager or owner is likely performing the HRM functions.<span class=\"im_footnote\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-fn02_002\">Jan de Kok and Lorraine M. Uhlaner, \u201cOrganization Context and Human Resource Management in the Small Firm\u201d (Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 01-038\/3, Tinbergen Institute, 2001), accessed August 13, 2011, <a class=\"im_link\" href=\"http:\/\/ideas.repec.org\/s\/dgr\/uvatin.html\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/ideas.repec.org\/s\/dgr\/uvatin.html<\/a>.<\/span> They hire people, train them, and determine how much they should be paid. Larger companies ultimately perform the same tasks, but because they have more employees, they can afford to employ specialists, or human resource managers, to handle these areas of the business. As a result, it is highly likely that you, as a manager or entrepreneur, will be performing HRM tasks, hence the value in understanding the strategic components of HRM.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">HRM vs. Personnel Management<\/h2>\r\n<span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Human resource strategy<\/span><span class=\"im_glossdef\">An elaborate and systematic plan of action developed by the human resource department.<\/span><\/span> is an elaborate and systematic plan of action developed by a human resource department. This definition tells us that an HR strategy includes detailed pathways to implement HRM strategic plans and HR plans. Think of the <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">HRM strategic plan<\/span><span class=\"im_glossdef\">A written document that consists of the major objectives the organization wants to achieve.<\/span><\/span> as the major objectives the organization wants to achieve, and the <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">HR plan<\/span><span class=\"im_glossdef\">Detailed, written plan to ensure the strategic plan is achieved.<\/span><\/span> as the specific activities carried out to achieve the strategic plan. In other words, the strategic plan may include long-term goals, while the HR plan may include short-term objectives that are tied to the overall strategic plan. As mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, human resource departments in the past were called personnel departments. This term implies that the department provided \u201csupport\u201d for the rest of the organization. Companies now understand that the human side of the business is the most important asset in any business (especially in this global economy), and therefore HR has much more importance than it did twenty years ago. While personnel management mostly involved activities surrounding the hiring process and legal compliance, human resources involves much more, including strategic planning, which is the focus of this chapter. The Ulrich HR model, a common way to look at HRM strategic planning, provides an overall view of the role of HRM in the organization. His model is said to have started the movement that changed the view of HR; no longer merely a functional area, HR became more of a partnership within the organization. While his model has changed over the years, the current model looks at alignment of HR activities with the overall global business strategy to form a strategic partnership.<span class=\"im_footnote\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-fn02_003\">David Ulrich and Wayne Brockbank, <em class=\"im_emphasis\">The HR Value Proposition<\/em> (Boston: Harvard Business Press, 2005), 9\u201314.<\/span> His newly revised model looks at five main areas of HR:\r\n<ol class=\"im_orderedlist im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s01_l01\">\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Strategic partner.<\/strong> Partnership with the entire organization to ensure alignment of the HR function with the needs of the organization.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Change agent.<\/strong> The skill to anticipate and respond to change within the HR function, but as a company as a whole.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Administrative expert and functional expert.<\/strong> The ability to understand and implement policies, procedures, and processes that relate to the HR strategic plan.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Human capital developer.<\/strong> Means to develop talent that is projected to be needed in the future.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Employee advocate<\/strong>. Works for employees currently within the organization.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nAccording to Ulrich,<span class=\"im_footnote\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-fn02_004\">David Ulrich, \u201cEvaluating the Ulrich Model,\u201d Acerta, 2011, accessed July 11, 2011, <a class=\"im_link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.goingforhr.be\/extras\/web-specials\/hr-according-to-dave-ulrich#ppt_2135261\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.goingforhr.be\/extras\/web-specials\/hr-according-to-dave-ulrich#ppt_2135261<\/a>.<\/span> implementation of this model must happen with an understanding of the overall company objectives, problems, challenges, and opportunities. For example, the HR professional must understand the dynamic nature of the HRM environment, such as changes in labor markets, company culture and values, customers, shareholders, and the economy. Once this occurs, HR can determine how best to meet the needs of the organization within these five main areas.\r\n<div class=\"im_figure im_large im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s01_f01\">\r\n\r\n<span class=\"im_title-prefix\">Figure 2.1<\/span>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/textimgs.s3.amazonaws.com\/hrmgmt\/section_06\/cff772060cd59eeceeb524290ab78eea.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/96\/2014\/08\/20030452\/sm_cff772060cd59eeceeb524290ab78eea.jpg\" \/><\/a>\r\n\r\nTo be successful in writing an HRM strategic plan, one must understand the dynamic external environment.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"im_video im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s01_n01\">\r\n<h3 class=\"im_title\">HRM as a Strategic Component of the Business<\/h3>\r\n<iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/om-QOUNeWtM\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n\r\nDavid Ulrich discusses the importance of bringing HR to the table in strategic planning.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nKeeping the Ulrich model in mind, consider these four aspects when creating a good HRM strategic plan:\r\n<ol class=\"im_orderedlist im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s01_l02\">\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Make it applicable.<\/strong> Often people spend an inordinate amount of time developing plans, but the plans sit in a file somewhere and are never actually used. A good strategic plan should be the guiding principles for the HRM function. It should be reviewed and changed as aspects of the business change. Involvement of all members in the HR department (if it\u2019s a larger department) and communication among everyone within the department will make the plan better.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Be a strategic partner.<\/strong> Alignment of corporate values in the HRM strategic plan should be a major objective of the plan. In addition, the HRM strategic plan should be aligned with the mission and objectives of the organization as a whole. For example, if the mission of the organization is to promote social responsibility, then the HRM strategic plan should address this in the hiring criteria.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Involve people.<\/strong> An HRM strategic plan cannot be written alone. The plan should involve everyone in the organization. For example, as the plan develops, the HR manager should meet with various people in departments and find out what skills the best employees have. Then the HR manager can make sure the people recruited and interviewed have similar qualities as the best people already doing the job. In addition, the HR manager will likely want to meet with the financial department and executives who do the budgeting, so they can determine human resource needs and recruit the right number of people at the right times. In addition, once the HR department determines what is needed, communicating a plan can gain positive feedback that ensures the plan is aligned with the business objectives.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Understand how technology can be used.<\/strong> Organizations oftentimes do not have the money or the inclination to research software and find budget-friendly options for implementation. People are sometimes nervous about new technology. However, the best organizations are those that embrace technology and find the right technology uses for their businesses. There are thousands of HRM software options that can make the HRM processes faster, easier, and more effective. Good strategic plans address this aspect.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\nHR managers know the business and therefore know the needs of the business and can develop a plan to meet those needs. They also stay on top of current events, so they know what is happening globally that could affect their strategic plan. If they find out, for example, that an economic downturn is looming, they will adjust their strategic plan. In other words, the strategic plan needs to be a living document, one that changes as the business and the world changes.\r\n<div class=\"im_callout im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s01_n02\">\r\n<h3 class=\"im_title\">Human Resource Recall<\/h3>\r\nHave you ever looked at your organization\u2019s strategic plan? What areas does the plan address?\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"im_section\">\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">The Steps to Strategic Plan Creation<\/h2>\r\nAs we addressed in Section 2.1.2 \"The Steps to Strategic Plan Creation\", HRM strategic plans must have several elements to be successful. There should be a distinction made here: the HRM strategic plan is different from the HR plan. Think of the <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">HRM strategic plan<\/span><span class=\"im_glossdef\">A written document that consists of the major objectives the organization wants to achieve.<\/span><\/span> as the major objectives the organization wants to achieve, while the <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">HR plan<\/span><span class=\"im_glossdef\">Detailed, written plan to ensure the strategic plan is achieved.<\/span><\/span> consists of the detailed plans to ensure the strategic plan is achieved. Oftentimes the strategic plan is viewed as just another report that must be written. Rather than jumping in and writing it without much thought, it is best to give the plan careful consideration.\r\n\r\nThe goal of Section 2 \"Conduct a Strategic Analysis\" is to provide you with some basic elements to consider and research before writing any HRM plans.\r\n<div class=\"im_section\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s01\">\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Conduct a Strategic Analysis<\/h2>\r\nA strategic analysis looks at three aspects of the individual HRM department:\r\n<ol class=\"im_orderedlist im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s01_l01\">\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Understanding of the company mission and values.<\/strong> It is impossible to plan for HRM if one does not know the values and missions of the organization. As we have already addressed in this chapter, it is imperative for the HR manager to align department objectives with organizational objectives. It is worthwhile to sit down with company executives, management, and supervisors to make sure you have a good understanding of the company mission and values.Another important aspect is the understanding of the organizational life cycle. You may have learned about the life cycle in marketing or other business classes, and this applies to HRM, too. An <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">organizational life cycle<\/span><span class=\"im_glossdef\">Refers to the introduction, growth, maturity, and decline of the organization, which can vary over time. A different HRM strategy is needed, depending on the organizational life cycle the company is experiencing.<\/span><\/span> refers to the introduction, growth, maturity, and decline of the organization, which can vary over time. For example, when the organization first begins, it is in the introduction phase, and a different staffing, compensation, training, and labor\/employee relations strategy may be necessary to align HRM with the organization\u2019s goals. This might be opposed to an organization that is struggling to stay in business and is in the decline phase. That same organization, however, can create a new product, for example, which might again put the organization in the growth phase. Table 2.2 \"Lifecycle Stages and HRM Strategy\" explains some of the strategies that may be different depending on the organizational life cycle.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Understanding of the HRM department mission and values.<\/strong> HRM departments must develop their own departmental mission and values. These guiding principles for the department will change as the company\u2019s overall mission and values change. Often the mission statement is a list of what the department does, which is less of a strategic approach. Brainstorming about HR goals, values, and priorities is a good way to start. The mission statement should express how an organization\u2019s human resources help that organization meet the business goals. A poor mission statement might read as follows: \u201cThe human resource department at Techno, Inc. provides resources to hiring managers and develops compensation plans and other services to assist the employees of our company.\u201dA strategic statement that expresses how human resources help the organization might read as follows: \u201cHR\u2019s responsibility is to ensure that our human resources are more talented and motivated than our competitors\u2019, giving us a competitive advantage. This will be achieved by monitoring our turnover rates, compensation, and company sales data and comparing that data to our competitors.\u201d<span class=\"im_footnote\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-fn02_005\">Gary Kaufman, \u201cHow to Fix HR,\u201d <em class=\"im_emphasis\">Harvard Business Review<\/em>, September 2006, accessed July 11, 2011, <a class=\"im_link\" href=\"http:\/\/hbr.org\/2006\/09\/how-to-fix-hr\/ar\/1\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/hbr.org\/2006\/09\/how-to-fix-hr\/ar\/1<\/a>.<\/span> When the mission statement is written in this way, it is easier to take a strategic approach with the HR planning process.<\/li>\r\n\t<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Understanding of the challenges facing the department.<\/strong> HRM managers cannot deal with change quickly if they are not able to predict changes. As a result, the HRM manager should know what upcoming challenges may be faced to make plans to deal with those challenges better when they come along. This makes the strategic plan and HRM plan much more usable.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<div class=\"im_table im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s01_t01\">\r\n\r\n<span class=\"im_title-prefix\">Table 2.2<\/span> Lifecycle Stages and HRM Strategy\r\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\r\n<thead>\r\n<tr>\r\n<th>Life Cycle Stage<\/th>\r\n<th>Staffing<\/th>\r\n<th>Compensation<\/th>\r\n<th>Training and Development<\/th>\r\n<th>Labor \/ Employee Relations<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Introduction<\/td>\r\n<td>Attract best technical and professional talent.<\/td>\r\n<td>Meet or exceed labor market rates to attract needed talent.<\/td>\r\n<td>Define future skill requirements and begin establishing career ladders.<\/td>\r\n<td>Set basic employee-relations philosophy of organization.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Growth<\/td>\r\n<td>Recruit adequate numbers and mix of qualifying workers. Plan management succession. Manage rapid internal labor market movements.<\/td>\r\n<td>Meet external market but consider internal equity effects. Establish formal compensation structures.<\/td>\r\n<td>Mold effective management team through management development and organizational development.<\/td>\r\n<td>Maintain labor peace, employee motivation, and morale.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Maturity<\/td>\r\n<td>Encourage sufficient turnover to minimize layoffs and provide new openings. Encourage mobility as reorganizations shift jobs around.<\/td>\r\n<td>Control compensation costs.<\/td>\r\n<td>Maintain flexibility and skills of an aging workforce.<\/td>\r\n<td>Control labor costs and maintain labor peace. Improve productivity.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Decline<\/td>\r\n<td>Plan and implement workforce reductions and reallocations; downsizing and outplacement may occur during this stage.<\/td>\r\n<td>Implement tighter cost control.<\/td>\r\n<td>Implement retraining and career consulting services.<\/td>\r\n<td>Improve productivity and achieve flexibility in work rules. Negotiate job security and employment-adjustment policies<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<div class=\"im_copyright\">\r\n\r\nSource: <em class=\"im_emphasis\">Seattle University Presentation<\/em>, accessed July 11, 2011, <a class=\"im_link\" href=\"http:\/\/fac-staff.seattleu.edu\/gprussia\/web\/mgt383\/HR%20Planning1.ppt\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/fac-staff.seattleu.edu\/gprussia\/web\/mgt383\/HR%20Planning1.ppt<\/a>.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"im_section\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s02\">\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Identify Strategic HR Issues<\/h2>\r\nIn this step, the HRM professionals will analyze the challenges addressed in the first step. For example, the department may see that it is not strategically aligned with the company\u2019s mission and values and opt to make changes to its departmental mission and values as a result of this information.\r\n\r\nMany organizations and departments will use a strategic planning tool that identifies strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis) to determine some of the issues they are facing. Once this analysis is performed for the business, HR can align itself with the needs of the business by understanding the business strategy. See Table 2.3 \"Sample HR Department SWOT Analysis for Techno, Inc.\" for an example of how a company\u2019s SWOT analysis can be used to develop a SWOT analysis for the HR department.\r\n\r\nOnce the alignment of the company SWOT is completed, HR can develop its own SWOT analysis to determine the gaps between HR\u2019s strategic plan and the company\u2019s strategic plan. For example, if the HR manager finds that a department\u2019s strength is its numerous training programs, this is something the organization should continue doing. If a weakness is the organization\u2019s lack of consistent compensation throughout all job titles, then the opportunity to review and revise the compensation policies presents itself. In other words, the company\u2019s SWOT analysis provides a basis to address some of the issues in the organization, but it can be whittled down to also address issues within the department.\r\n<div class=\"im_table im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s02_t01\">\r\n\r\n<span class=\"im_title-prefix\">Table 2.3<\/span> Sample HR Department SWOT Analysis for Techno, Inc.\r\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td rowspan=\"4\">Strengths<\/td>\r\n<td>Hiring talented people<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Company growth<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Technology implementation for business processes<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Excellent relationship between HRM and management\/executives<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td rowspan=\"4\">Weaknesses<\/td>\r\n<td>No strategic plan for HRM<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>No planning for up\/down cycles<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>No formal training processes<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Lacking of software needed to manage business processes, including go-to-market staffing strategies<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td rowspan=\"4\">Opportunities<\/td>\r\n<td>Development of HRM staffing plan to meet industry growth<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>HRM software purchase to manage training, staffing, assessment needs for an unpredictable business cycle<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Continue development of HRM and executive relationship by attendance and participation in key meetings and decision-making processes<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Develop training programs and outside development opportunities to continue development of in-house marketing expertise<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td rowspan=\"2\">Threats<\/td>\r\n<td>Economy<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td>Changing technology<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"im_section\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s03\">\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Prioritize Issues and Actions<\/h2>\r\nBased on the data gathered in the last step, the HRM manager should prioritize the goals and then put action plans together to deal with these challenges. For example, if an organization identifies that they lack a comprehensive training program, plans should be developed that address this need. (Training needs are discussed in Chapter 8 \"Training and Development\".) An important aspect of this step is the involvement of the management and executives in the organization. Once you have a list of issues you will address, discuss them with the management and executives, as they may see other issues or other priorities differently than you. Remember, to be effective, HRM must work with the organization and assist the organization in meeting goals. This should be considered in every aspect of HRM planning.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"im_section\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s04\">\r\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Draw Up an HRM Plan<\/h2>\r\nOnce the HRM manager has met with executives and management, and priorities have been agreed upon, the plans are ready to be developed. Detailed development of these plans will be discussed in Section 2.2 \"Writing the HRM Plan\". Sometimes companies have great strategic plans, but when the development of the details occurs, it can be difficult to align the strategic plan with the more detailed plans. An HRM manager should always refer to the overall strategic plan before developing the HRM strategic plan and HR plans.\r\n\r\nEven if a company does not have an HR department, HRM strategic plans and HR plans should still be developed by management. By developing and monitoring these plans, the organization can ensure the right processes are implemented to meet the ever-changing needs of the organization. The strategic plan looks at the organization as a whole, the HRM strategic plan looks at the department as a whole, and the HR plan addresses specific issues in the human resource department.\r\n<div class=\"im_key_takeaways im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s04_n01\">\r\n<h3 class=\"im_title\">Key Takeaways<\/h3>\r\n<ul class=\"im_itemizedlist\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s04_l01\">\r\n\t<li><em class=\"im_emphasis\">Personnel management<\/em> and <em class=\"im_emphasis\">HRM<\/em> are different ways of looking at the job duties of human resources. Twenty years ago, personnel management focused on administrative aspects. HRM today involves a strategic process, which requires working with other departments, managers, and executives to be effective and meet the needs of the organization.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>In general, HRM focuses on several main areas, which include staffing, policy development, compensation and benefits, retention issues, training and development, and regulatory issues and worker protection.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>To be effective, the HR manager needs to utilize technology and involve others.<\/li>\r\n\t<li>As part of strategic planning, HRM should conduct a strategic analysis, identify HR issues, determine and prioritize actions, and then draw up the HRM plan.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"im_exercises im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s04_n02\">\r\n<h3 class=\"im_title\">Exercises<\/h3>\r\n<ol class=\"im_orderedlist\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s04_l02\">\r\n\t<li>What is the difference between HR plans and HRM strategic plans? How are they the same? How are they different?<\/li>\r\n\t<li>Of the areas of focus in HRM, which one do you think is the most important? Rank them and discuss the reasons for your rankings.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<hr \/>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"smallattr\" style=\"font-size: x-small;\">\r\n\r\nThis page is licensed under a <a href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\" rel=\"license\">Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike License<\/a> and contains content from a variety of sources published under a variety of open licenses, including:\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>Content created by Anonymous under a <a href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\" rel=\"license\">Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike License<\/a><\/li>\r\n\t<li>Original content contributed by Lumen Learning<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nIf you believe that a portion of this Open Course Framework infringes another's copyright, <a href=\"http:\/\/lumenlearning.com\/copyright\">contact us<\/a>.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n&nbsp;","rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"im_section\">\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\"><span class=\"im_title-prefix\">2.1<\/span> Strategic Planning<\/h2>\n<div class=\"im_learning_objectives im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_n01\">\n<h3 class=\"im_title\">Learning Objectives<\/h3>\n<ol class=\"im_orderedlist\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_l01\">\n<li>Explain the differences been HRM and personnel management.<\/li>\n<li>Be able to define the steps in HRM strategic planning.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<p>In the past, human resource management (HRM) was called the personnel department. In the past, the personnel department hired people and dealt with the hiring paperwork and processes. It is believed the first human resource department was created in 1901 by the National Cash Register Company (NCR). The company faced a major strike but eventually defeated the union after a lockout. (We address unions in Chapter 12 &#8220;Working with Labor Unions&#8221;.) After this difficult battle, the company president decided to improve worker relations by organizing a personnel department to handle grievances, discharges, safety concerns, and other employee issues. The department also kept track of new legislation surrounding laws impacting the organization. Many other companies were coming to the same realization that a department was necessary to create employee satisfaction, which resulted in more productivity. In 1913, Henry Ford saw employee turnover at 380 percent and tried to ease the turnover by increasing wages from $2.50 to $5.00, even though $2.50 was fair during this time period.<span class=\"im_footnote\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-fn02_001\">Michael Losey, \u201cHR Comes of Age,\u201d <em class=\"im_emphasis\">HR Magazine<\/em>, March 15, 1998, accessed July 11, 2011, <a class=\"im_link\" href=\"http:\/\/findarticles.com\/p\/articles\/mi_m3495\/is_n3_v43\/ai_20514399\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/findarticles.com\/p\/articles\/mi_m3495\/is_n3_v43\/ai_20514399<\/a>.<\/span> Of course, this approach didn\u2019t work for long, and these large companies began to understand they had to do more than hire and fire if they were going to meet customer demand.<\/p>\n<p>More recently, however, the personnel department has divided into human resource management and human resource development, as these functions have evolved over the century. HRM is not only crucial to an organization\u2019s success, but it should be part of the overall company\u2019s strategic plan, because so many businesses today depend on people to earn profits. Strategic planning plays an important role in how productive the organization is.<\/p>\n<div class=\"im_table im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_t01\">\n<p><span class=\"im_title-prefix\">Table 2.1<\/span> Examples of Differences between Personnel Management and HRM<\/p>\n<table cellpadding=\"0\" style=\"border-spacing: 0px;\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Personnel Management Focus<\/th>\n<th>HRM Focus<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Administering of policies<\/td>\n<td>Helping to achieve strategic goals through people<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Stand-alone programs, such as training<\/td>\n<td>HRM training programs that are integrated with company\u2019s mission and values<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Personnel department responsible for managing people<\/td>\n<td>Line managers share joint responsibility in all areas of people hiring and management<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Creates a cost within an organization<\/td>\n<td>Contributes to the profit objectives of the organization<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>Most people agree that the following duties normally fall under HRM. Each of these aspects has its own part within the overall strategic plan of the organization:<\/p>\n<ol class=\"im_orderedlist im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_l02\">\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Staffing.<\/strong> Staffing includes the development of a strategic plan to determine how many people you might need to hire. Based on the strategic plan, HRM then performs the hiring process to recruit and select the right people for the right jobs. We discuss staffing in greater detail in Chapter 4 &#8220;Recruitment&#8221;, Chapter 5 &#8220;Selection&#8221;, and Chapter 6 &#8220;Compensation and Benefits&#8221;.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Basic workplace policies.<\/strong> Development of policies to help reach the strategic plan\u2019s goals is the job of HRM. After the policies have been developed, communication of these policies on safety, security, scheduling, vacation times, and flextime schedules should be developed by the HR department. Of course, the HR managers work closely with supervisors in organizations to develop these policies. Workplace policies will be addressed throughout the book.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Compensation and benefits.<\/strong> In addition to paychecks, 401(k) plans, health benefits, and other perks are usually the responsibility of an HR manager. Compensation and benefits are discussed in Chapter 6 &#8220;Compensation and Benefits&#8221; and Chapter 7 &#8220;Retention and Motivation&#8221;.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Retention.<\/strong> Assessment of employees and strategizing on how to retain the best employees is a task that HR managers oversee, but other managers in the organization will also provide input. Chapter 9 &#8220;Successful Employee Communication&#8221;, Chapter 10 &#8220;Managing Employee Performance&#8221;, and Chapter 11 &#8220;Employee Assessment&#8221; cover different types of retention strategies, from training to assessment.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Training and development.<\/strong> Helping new employees develop skills needed for their jobs and helping current employees grow their skills are also tasks for which the HRM department is responsible. Determination of training needs and development and implementation of training programs are important tasks in any organization. Training is discussed in great detail in Chapter 9 &#8220;Successful Employee Communication&#8221;, including succession planning. Succession planning includes handling the departure of managers and making current employees ready to take on managerial roles when a manager does leave.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Regulatory issues and worker safety.<\/strong> Keeping up to date on new regulations relating to employment, health care, and other issues is generally a responsibility that falls on the HRM department. While various laws are discussed throughout the book, unions and safety and health laws in the workplace are covered in Chapter 12 &#8220;Working with Labor Unions&#8221; and Chapter 13 &#8220;Safety and Health at Work&#8221;.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>In smaller organizations, the manager or owner is likely performing the HRM functions.<span class=\"im_footnote\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-fn02_002\">Jan de Kok and Lorraine M. Uhlaner, \u201cOrganization Context and Human Resource Management in the Small Firm\u201d (Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 01-038\/3, Tinbergen Institute, 2001), accessed August 13, 2011, <a class=\"im_link\" href=\"http:\/\/ideas.repec.org\/s\/dgr\/uvatin.html\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/ideas.repec.org\/s\/dgr\/uvatin.html<\/a>.<\/span> They hire people, train them, and determine how much they should be paid. Larger companies ultimately perform the same tasks, but because they have more employees, they can afford to employ specialists, or human resource managers, to handle these areas of the business. As a result, it is highly likely that you, as a manager or entrepreneur, will be performing HRM tasks, hence the value in understanding the strategic components of HRM.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"im_section\">\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">HRM vs. Personnel Management<\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">Human resource strategy<\/span><span class=\"im_glossdef\">An elaborate and systematic plan of action developed by the human resource department.<\/span><\/span> is an elaborate and systematic plan of action developed by a human resource department. This definition tells us that an HR strategy includes detailed pathways to implement HRM strategic plans and HR plans. Think of the <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">HRM strategic plan<\/span><span class=\"im_glossdef\">A written document that consists of the major objectives the organization wants to achieve.<\/span><\/span> as the major objectives the organization wants to achieve, and the <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">HR plan<\/span><span class=\"im_glossdef\">Detailed, written plan to ensure the strategic plan is achieved.<\/span><\/span> as the specific activities carried out to achieve the strategic plan. In other words, the strategic plan may include long-term goals, while the HR plan may include short-term objectives that are tied to the overall strategic plan. As mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, human resource departments in the past were called personnel departments. This term implies that the department provided \u201csupport\u201d for the rest of the organization. Companies now understand that the human side of the business is the most important asset in any business (especially in this global economy), and therefore HR has much more importance than it did twenty years ago. While personnel management mostly involved activities surrounding the hiring process and legal compliance, human resources involves much more, including strategic planning, which is the focus of this chapter. The Ulrich HR model, a common way to look at HRM strategic planning, provides an overall view of the role of HRM in the organization. His model is said to have started the movement that changed the view of HR; no longer merely a functional area, HR became more of a partnership within the organization. While his model has changed over the years, the current model looks at alignment of HR activities with the overall global business strategy to form a strategic partnership.<span class=\"im_footnote\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-fn02_003\">David Ulrich and Wayne Brockbank, <em class=\"im_emphasis\">The HR Value Proposition<\/em> (Boston: Harvard Business Press, 2005), 9\u201314.<\/span> His newly revised model looks at five main areas of HR:<\/p>\n<ol class=\"im_orderedlist im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s01_l01\">\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Strategic partner.<\/strong> Partnership with the entire organization to ensure alignment of the HR function with the needs of the organization.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Change agent.<\/strong> The skill to anticipate and respond to change within the HR function, but as a company as a whole.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Administrative expert and functional expert.<\/strong> The ability to understand and implement policies, procedures, and processes that relate to the HR strategic plan.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Human capital developer.<\/strong> Means to develop talent that is projected to be needed in the future.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Employee advocate<\/strong>. Works for employees currently within the organization.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>According to Ulrich,<span class=\"im_footnote\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-fn02_004\">David Ulrich, \u201cEvaluating the Ulrich Model,\u201d Acerta, 2011, accessed July 11, 2011, <a class=\"im_link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.goingforhr.be\/extras\/web-specials\/hr-according-to-dave-ulrich#ppt_2135261\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.goingforhr.be\/extras\/web-specials\/hr-according-to-dave-ulrich#ppt_2135261<\/a>.<\/span> implementation of this model must happen with an understanding of the overall company objectives, problems, challenges, and opportunities. For example, the HR professional must understand the dynamic nature of the HRM environment, such as changes in labor markets, company culture and values, customers, shareholders, and the economy. Once this occurs, HR can determine how best to meet the needs of the organization within these five main areas.<\/p>\n<div class=\"im_figure im_large im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s01_f01\">\n<p><span class=\"im_title-prefix\">Figure 2.1<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/textimgs.s3.amazonaws.com\/hrmgmt\/section_06\/cff772060cd59eeceeb524290ab78eea.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images-archive-read-only\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/96\/2014\/08\/20030452\/sm_cff772060cd59eeceeb524290ab78eea.jpg\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>To be successful in writing an HRM strategic plan, one must understand the dynamic external environment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"im_video im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s01_n01\">\n<h3 class=\"im_title\">HRM as a Strategic Component of the Business<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/om-QOUNeWtM\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>David Ulrich discusses the importance of bringing HR to the table in strategic planning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Keeping the Ulrich model in mind, consider these four aspects when creating a good HRM strategic plan:<\/p>\n<ol class=\"im_orderedlist im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s01_l02\">\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Make it applicable.<\/strong> Often people spend an inordinate amount of time developing plans, but the plans sit in a file somewhere and are never actually used. A good strategic plan should be the guiding principles for the HRM function. It should be reviewed and changed as aspects of the business change. Involvement of all members in the HR department (if it\u2019s a larger department) and communication among everyone within the department will make the plan better.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Be a strategic partner.<\/strong> Alignment of corporate values in the HRM strategic plan should be a major objective of the plan. In addition, the HRM strategic plan should be aligned with the mission and objectives of the organization as a whole. For example, if the mission of the organization is to promote social responsibility, then the HRM strategic plan should address this in the hiring criteria.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Involve people.<\/strong> An HRM strategic plan cannot be written alone. The plan should involve everyone in the organization. For example, as the plan develops, the HR manager should meet with various people in departments and find out what skills the best employees have. Then the HR manager can make sure the people recruited and interviewed have similar qualities as the best people already doing the job. In addition, the HR manager will likely want to meet with the financial department and executives who do the budgeting, so they can determine human resource needs and recruit the right number of people at the right times. In addition, once the HR department determines what is needed, communicating a plan can gain positive feedback that ensures the plan is aligned with the business objectives.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Understand how technology can be used.<\/strong> Organizations oftentimes do not have the money or the inclination to research software and find budget-friendly options for implementation. People are sometimes nervous about new technology. However, the best organizations are those that embrace technology and find the right technology uses for their businesses. There are thousands of HRM software options that can make the HRM processes faster, easier, and more effective. Good strategic plans address this aspect.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>HR managers know the business and therefore know the needs of the business and can develop a plan to meet those needs. They also stay on top of current events, so they know what is happening globally that could affect their strategic plan. If they find out, for example, that an economic downturn is looming, they will adjust their strategic plan. In other words, the strategic plan needs to be a living document, one that changes as the business and the world changes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"im_callout im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s01_n02\">\n<h3 class=\"im_title\">Human Resource Recall<\/h3>\n<p>Have you ever looked at your organization\u2019s strategic plan? What areas does the plan address?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"im_section\">\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">The Steps to Strategic Plan Creation<\/h2>\n<p>As we addressed in Section 2.1.2 &#8220;The Steps to Strategic Plan Creation&#8221;, HRM strategic plans must have several elements to be successful. There should be a distinction made here: the HRM strategic plan is different from the HR plan. Think of the <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">HRM strategic plan<\/span><span class=\"im_glossdef\">A written document that consists of the major objectives the organization wants to achieve.<\/span><\/span> as the major objectives the organization wants to achieve, while the <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">HR plan<\/span><span class=\"im_glossdef\">Detailed, written plan to ensure the strategic plan is achieved.<\/span><\/span> consists of the detailed plans to ensure the strategic plan is achieved. Oftentimes the strategic plan is viewed as just another report that must be written. Rather than jumping in and writing it without much thought, it is best to give the plan careful consideration.<\/p>\n<p>The goal of Section 2 &#8220;Conduct a Strategic Analysis&#8221; is to provide you with some basic elements to consider and research before writing any HRM plans.<\/p>\n<div class=\"im_section\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s01\">\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Conduct a Strategic Analysis<\/h2>\n<p>A strategic analysis looks at three aspects of the individual HRM department:<\/p>\n<ol class=\"im_orderedlist im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s01_l01\">\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Understanding of the company mission and values.<\/strong> It is impossible to plan for HRM if one does not know the values and missions of the organization. As we have already addressed in this chapter, it is imperative for the HR manager to align department objectives with organizational objectives. It is worthwhile to sit down with company executives, management, and supervisors to make sure you have a good understanding of the company mission and values.Another important aspect is the understanding of the organizational life cycle. You may have learned about the life cycle in marketing or other business classes, and this applies to HRM, too. An <span class=\"im_margin_term\"><span class=\"im_glossterm\">organizational life cycle<\/span><span class=\"im_glossdef\">Refers to the introduction, growth, maturity, and decline of the organization, which can vary over time. A different HRM strategy is needed, depending on the organizational life cycle the company is experiencing.<\/span><\/span> refers to the introduction, growth, maturity, and decline of the organization, which can vary over time. For example, when the organization first begins, it is in the introduction phase, and a different staffing, compensation, training, and labor\/employee relations strategy may be necessary to align HRM with the organization\u2019s goals. This might be opposed to an organization that is struggling to stay in business and is in the decline phase. That same organization, however, can create a new product, for example, which might again put the organization in the growth phase. Table 2.2 &#8220;Lifecycle Stages and HRM Strategy&#8221; explains some of the strategies that may be different depending on the organizational life cycle.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Understanding of the HRM department mission and values.<\/strong> HRM departments must develop their own departmental mission and values. These guiding principles for the department will change as the company\u2019s overall mission and values change. Often the mission statement is a list of what the department does, which is less of a strategic approach. Brainstorming about HR goals, values, and priorities is a good way to start. The mission statement should express how an organization\u2019s human resources help that organization meet the business goals. A poor mission statement might read as follows: \u201cThe human resource department at Techno, Inc. provides resources to hiring managers and develops compensation plans and other services to assist the employees of our company.\u201dA strategic statement that expresses how human resources help the organization might read as follows: \u201cHR\u2019s responsibility is to ensure that our human resources are more talented and motivated than our competitors\u2019, giving us a competitive advantage. This will be achieved by monitoring our turnover rates, compensation, and company sales data and comparing that data to our competitors.\u201d<span class=\"im_footnote\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-fn02_005\">Gary Kaufman, \u201cHow to Fix HR,\u201d <em class=\"im_emphasis\">Harvard Business Review<\/em>, September 2006, accessed July 11, 2011, <a class=\"im_link\" href=\"http:\/\/hbr.org\/2006\/09\/how-to-fix-hr\/ar\/1\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/hbr.org\/2006\/09\/how-to-fix-hr\/ar\/1<\/a>.<\/span> When the mission statement is written in this way, it is easier to take a strategic approach with the HR planning process.<\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"im_emphasis im_bold\">Understanding of the challenges facing the department.<\/strong> HRM managers cannot deal with change quickly if they are not able to predict changes. As a result, the HRM manager should know what upcoming challenges may be faced to make plans to deal with those challenges better when they come along. This makes the strategic plan and HRM plan much more usable.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div class=\"im_table im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s01_t01\">\n<p><span class=\"im_title-prefix\">Table 2.2<\/span> Lifecycle Stages and HRM Strategy<\/p>\n<table cellpadding=\"0\" style=\"border-spacing: 0px;\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Life Cycle Stage<\/th>\n<th>Staffing<\/th>\n<th>Compensation<\/th>\n<th>Training and Development<\/th>\n<th>Labor \/ Employee Relations<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Introduction<\/td>\n<td>Attract best technical and professional talent.<\/td>\n<td>Meet or exceed labor market rates to attract needed talent.<\/td>\n<td>Define future skill requirements and begin establishing career ladders.<\/td>\n<td>Set basic employee-relations philosophy of organization.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Growth<\/td>\n<td>Recruit adequate numbers and mix of qualifying workers. Plan management succession. Manage rapid internal labor market movements.<\/td>\n<td>Meet external market but consider internal equity effects. Establish formal compensation structures.<\/td>\n<td>Mold effective management team through management development and organizational development.<\/td>\n<td>Maintain labor peace, employee motivation, and morale.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Maturity<\/td>\n<td>Encourage sufficient turnover to minimize layoffs and provide new openings. Encourage mobility as reorganizations shift jobs around.<\/td>\n<td>Control compensation costs.<\/td>\n<td>Maintain flexibility and skills of an aging workforce.<\/td>\n<td>Control labor costs and maintain labor peace. Improve productivity.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Decline<\/td>\n<td>Plan and implement workforce reductions and reallocations; downsizing and outplacement may occur during this stage.<\/td>\n<td>Implement tighter cost control.<\/td>\n<td>Implement retraining and career consulting services.<\/td>\n<td>Improve productivity and achieve flexibility in work rules. Negotiate job security and employment-adjustment policies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<div class=\"im_copyright\">\n<p>Source: <em class=\"im_emphasis\">Seattle University Presentation<\/em>, accessed July 11, 2011, <a class=\"im_link\" href=\"http:\/\/fac-staff.seattleu.edu\/gprussia\/web\/mgt383\/HR%20Planning1.ppt\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/fac-staff.seattleu.edu\/gprussia\/web\/mgt383\/HR%20Planning1.ppt<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"im_section\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s02\">\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Identify Strategic HR Issues<\/h2>\n<p>In this step, the HRM professionals will analyze the challenges addressed in the first step. For example, the department may see that it is not strategically aligned with the company\u2019s mission and values and opt to make changes to its departmental mission and values as a result of this information.<\/p>\n<p>Many organizations and departments will use a strategic planning tool that identifies strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis) to determine some of the issues they are facing. Once this analysis is performed for the business, HR can align itself with the needs of the business by understanding the business strategy. See Table 2.3 &#8220;Sample HR Department SWOT Analysis for Techno, Inc.&#8221; for an example of how a company\u2019s SWOT analysis can be used to develop a SWOT analysis for the HR department.<\/p>\n<p>Once the alignment of the company SWOT is completed, HR can develop its own SWOT analysis to determine the gaps between HR\u2019s strategic plan and the company\u2019s strategic plan. For example, if the HR manager finds that a department\u2019s strength is its numerous training programs, this is something the organization should continue doing. If a weakness is the organization\u2019s lack of consistent compensation throughout all job titles, then the opportunity to review and revise the compensation policies presents itself. In other words, the company\u2019s SWOT analysis provides a basis to address some of the issues in the organization, but it can be whittled down to also address issues within the department.<\/p>\n<div class=\"im_table im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s02_t01\">\n<p><span class=\"im_title-prefix\">Table 2.3<\/span> Sample HR Department SWOT Analysis for Techno, Inc.<\/p>\n<table cellpadding=\"0\" style=\"border-spacing: 0px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"4\">Strengths<\/td>\n<td>Hiring talented people<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Company growth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Technology implementation for business processes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Excellent relationship between HRM and management\/executives<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"4\">Weaknesses<\/td>\n<td>No strategic plan for HRM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>No planning for up\/down cycles<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>No formal training processes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Lacking of software needed to manage business processes, including go-to-market staffing strategies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"4\">Opportunities<\/td>\n<td>Development of HRM staffing plan to meet industry growth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>HRM software purchase to manage training, staffing, assessment needs for an unpredictable business cycle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Continue development of HRM and executive relationship by attendance and participation in key meetings and decision-making processes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Develop training programs and outside development opportunities to continue development of in-house marketing expertise<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td rowspan=\"2\">Threats<\/td>\n<td>Economy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Changing technology<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"im_section\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s03\">\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Prioritize Issues and Actions<\/h2>\n<p>Based on the data gathered in the last step, the HRM manager should prioritize the goals and then put action plans together to deal with these challenges. For example, if an organization identifies that they lack a comprehensive training program, plans should be developed that address this need. (Training needs are discussed in Chapter 8 &#8220;Training and Development&#8221;.) An important aspect of this step is the involvement of the management and executives in the organization. Once you have a list of issues you will address, discuss them with the management and executives, as they may see other issues or other priorities differently than you. Remember, to be effective, HRM must work with the organization and assist the organization in meeting goals. This should be considered in every aspect of HRM planning.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"im_section\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s04\">\n<h2 class=\"im_title im_editable im_block\">Draw Up an HRM Plan<\/h2>\n<p>Once the HRM manager has met with executives and management, and priorities have been agreed upon, the plans are ready to be developed. Detailed development of these plans will be discussed in Section 2.2 &#8220;Writing the HRM Plan&#8221;. Sometimes companies have great strategic plans, but when the development of the details occurs, it can be difficult to align the strategic plan with the more detailed plans. An HRM manager should always refer to the overall strategic plan before developing the HRM strategic plan and HR plans.<\/p>\n<p>Even if a company does not have an HR department, HRM strategic plans and HR plans should still be developed by management. By developing and monitoring these plans, the organization can ensure the right processes are implemented to meet the ever-changing needs of the organization. The strategic plan looks at the organization as a whole, the HRM strategic plan looks at the department as a whole, and the HR plan addresses specific issues in the human resource department.<\/p>\n<div class=\"im_key_takeaways im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s04_n01\">\n<h3 class=\"im_title\">Key Takeaways<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"im_itemizedlist\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s04_l01\">\n<li><em class=\"im_emphasis\">Personnel management<\/em> and <em class=\"im_emphasis\">HRM<\/em> are different ways of looking at the job duties of human resources. Twenty years ago, personnel management focused on administrative aspects. HRM today involves a strategic process, which requires working with other departments, managers, and executives to be effective and meet the needs of the organization.<\/li>\n<li>In general, HRM focuses on several main areas, which include staffing, policy development, compensation and benefits, retention issues, training and development, and regulatory issues and worker protection.<\/li>\n<li>To be effective, the HR manager needs to utilize technology and involve others.<\/li>\n<li>As part of strategic planning, HRM should conduct a strategic analysis, identify HR issues, determine and prioritize actions, and then draw up the HRM plan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"im_exercises im_editable im_block\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s04_n02\">\n<h3 class=\"im_title\">Exercises<\/h3>\n<ol class=\"im_orderedlist\" id=\"portolesedias_1.0-ch02_s01_s02_s04_l02\">\n<li>What is the difference between HR plans and HRM strategic plans? How are they the same? How are they different?<\/li>\n<li>Of the areas of focus in HRM, which one do you think is the most important? Rank them and discuss the reasons for your rankings.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<div class=\"smallattr\" style=\"font-size: x-small;\">\n<p>This page is licensed under a <a href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\" rel=\"license\">Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike License<\/a> and contains content from a variety of sources published under a variety of open licenses, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Content created by Anonymous under a <a href=\"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\" rel=\"license\">Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share-Alike License<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Original content contributed by Lumen Learning<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you believe that a portion of this Open Course Framework infringes another&#8217;s copyright, <a href=\"http:\/\/lumenlearning.com\/copyright\">contact us<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"menu_order":7,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[]","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-32","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":236,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/hrmanagement\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/32","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/hrmanagement\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/hrmanagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/hrmanagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/hrmanagement\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/32\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":367,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/hrmanagement\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/32\/revisions\/367"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/hrmanagement\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/236"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/hrmanagement\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/32\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/hrmanagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/hrmanagement\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=32"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/hrmanagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=32"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/hrmanagement\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=32"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}