Human Resource Management Practices

Human resource management is a field of research and practice that addresses the evaluation, placement, development, compensation, and retention of employees. The goals of any human resource program are defined at the organizational level as a component of the strategic planning process. The process then moves to staffing, which includes recruiting, hiring, and placing individuals in appropriate organizational roles. The training and development function involves providing initial skills development to newcomers, along with evaluating performance over time and providing appropriate ongoing developmental experiences. These processes all work in tandem with compensation practices, incorporating base pay, incentives, and nonmonetary benefits. Because human resources decisions influence many important outcomes for workers, there is also an extensive legal framework regulating employment.