What is Human Resources (HR) Management really all about?

There are a huge range of human resources business books, magazines and journals dedicated to

exploring what is an important sector of modern business. Universities teach courses and modules on

HR topics and HR focused professional associations like the Chartered Institute of Professional

Development offer training and award qualifications to the ranks of up and coming new HR managers

who are entering the jobs market.

Kogan Page works closely with these organisations and publishes market leading books on human

resources management as well as related topics such as change management, employee

engagement and performance management.

All this begs the question, are humans resources? Arguably, ever since John R. Commons coined

the phrase ‘human resource’ in 1893, businesses have classified us in this way. Whether or not we

like the term, humans are in fact incredibly complex ‘resources’ that are likely to be a company’s

biggest asset and expense.

Without people, businesses could not run. As a result businesses across the globe employ human

resources departments dedicated to the hiring (and firing!), administration and training of staff. They

need to do this effectively as part of keeping profits as high and costs as low as possible. A well

planned HR strategy when implemented properly will help companies to:

Improve profitability

Improve staff productivity

Reduce unnecessary costs- less wasted time, resources and wages

Reduce customer complaints

Retain their best people

Reward high performers

Excel against the competition

Bring recognition as a ‘great employer’ and attract talent

Recruit the right people at the lowest cost

Avoid legal difficulties If we agree that people are resources then it is fair to say that people are incredibly complex

resources that are subject to many pressures that could potentially have an impact on their

performance at work. The effective administration of this highly complex human resource is essential

to maintaining and improving employee performance and to securing the long term financial success

of any business.

Where a strong and dynamic HR strategy leads to the benefits listed above, employing the wrong

person can have disastrous consequences in terms of costs, lost business, reputational damage, and

disruption. According to Forbes Magazine, on average, companies face employment costs of between

£25,000 and £35,000 per employee. http://ow.ly/UyYrp

The modern world is changing at an extremely fast rate; businesses of all sizes must contend with

rapid advances in technology, data management, social media, communications and transport.

The planet is under pressure from rapid population growth and increasing strain on the environment.

Employee engagement, development and talent management practices are changing at pace too and

HR professionals must keep up to remain of value to their organisations.

New job titles such as Head of Talent, Chief People Officer, VP of People Operations, Chief Talent

Officer, and others are becoming more commonplace as more traditional titles such as Human

Resource Officer gradually fade away. However, a superficial title change is not enough; the effective

HR manager in 2015 must be accustomed to and prepared for rapid, real change.

Kogan Page human resource business books examine and address developments that are at the

cutting edge of the field. Kogan Page is the go to publisher of highly relevant books for HR

professionals and students and our core aim is to help HR managers attract, develop, manage and

retain staff effectively in the dynamic and fast moving global business environment.

Learn more by visiting Kogan Page founded in 1967 is the leading independent global publisher of

business books, and content with over 700 books in print. They hold volumes of award-winning work

and offer solutions for professional practice and academic achievement in both print and digital

form.