Human Resource Management - Management Approach to HRM Essay

Human Resource Management - Management Approach to HRM - Essay Example (Baird & Meshoulam, 1988). Historically there is a shift in the concepts and development of the field of human resource management over the period of time. What started as personnel management has now gradually transformed itself into the new realm of human resource management. The ideas of personnel management mainly seems to be contrasting with those of human resource management. The traditional view about the personnel management was of the view that the humans are only responsible for production and profits and personnel management largely envisioned the use of machines as manpower. Historically what is now considered as human resource management was something else. Over the period of time, related concepts and theories were known with different names and gradually transformed into HRM. HRM initially started with the name of Industrial Welfare. (Kaizelong, 2006). This was the first form of human resource management which was basically started with the advent of the labor unions. The initial focus was on the welfare of the factory labors. However it gradually evolved and culminated into the bigger concept of Personnel Management. The real focus on the personnel management started with the advent of industrial revolution where the need for qualified staff was badly felt especially due to the factor of division of labor. There exists a very subtle and minute element of distinction between human resources and personnel management. Both are considered as â€Å"process of getting things done through people†. (ACCEL TEAM, 2007). HRM now is considered as an inte grative approach in which a two-way linkage is assumed between the organizational strategy and individual needs of the employees on the other hand. The essence of HRM now is that the separate personnel actions are now consistently linked and integrated with the overall