The key resource in any organization is the people.

Managers obviously manage people in the execution of the company’s mission.

Another key aspect of managing people is ensuring the company has capable, competent, dependable individuals to perform those tasks.

This means those individuals must be identified, retained, trained, motivated through compensation, cared for through benefits, advanced, etc.

This means that we need managers who understand how to manage these human resources.

What is Human Resources?

Human resources (HR) refers to the collective workforce of an organization, business sector, industry, or economy.

A narrower concept within HR is human capital, which encompasses the knowledge and skills possessed by individuals. Related terms include manpower, labor, labor-power, and personnel.

Human Resources Management

Human resources management is carried out by all managers of the orginzation. Further, there may be a dedicated department of the organization charged with human resource tasks (“human resource department” or just “human resources”).

The Human Resources department (HR department or simply “Human Resource”) within an organization manages human resource management.

Human resource functions include overseeing compliance with labor laws and employment standards, conducting interviews and selection processes, managing performance, administering employee benefits, organizing employee files, and handling recruitment (also known as talent acquisition) and employee off-boarding.

Essentially, the HR department acts as the intermediary between an organization’s management and its employees.