The human resource department is among the departments that are involved in key strategic planning in organizations today. Every successful organization is characterized by vigilant and strategic departments such as management and human resource departments. The human resource department views the various individuals who play various roles in an organization as an essential and beneficial asset for the organization rather than a cost and a liability. As a result, human resource managers are mainly concerned with ensuring that the people in an organization are well equipped in terms of expertise to enhance their effectiveness, and also makes sure that they are well catered for by the organization thus promoting their satisfaction (Gill & Meyer, 2011). This paper aims at exploring the various role played by human resources and also highlighting the challenges that are faced by the same in organizations today.

To start with, Ivancevich & Konopaske, (2012) discuss how human resources deal with the management of human skills in an organization. Such management includes making sure that the organization employs the individuals who are competent in terms of skills and abilities that are required in helping them to work efficiently. It is the role of human resources in an organization to provide employees that are well-trained and motivated and who are able to deliver the quality services as expected by the organization. The abilities and skills of the workforce of any organization directly affect its productivity which in turn affect the ability of such an organization to compete favorably against its competitors. Human resources managers are also responsible for ensuring that the skilled individuals as employed by the organization are motivated and satisfied at their work. Well-motivated employees remain highly productive and efficient which in turn promotes the competitiveness of the organization. The managers devise the various methods of motivating employees including training them to enhance their professional development.

In addition, human resources carry out the role of communication in the organization. People in any organization tend to be resistant to changes in culture and policies due to various reasons such as lack of adequate information in relation to such changes. The human resources department manages change in an organization by ensuring that there is effective communication of any changes to all the employees in an organization as described by Gill & Meyer, (2011). Any changes in roles are communicated to the employees. Human resource managers also respond to the voices of employees by making sure that their complaints are forwarded to the appropriate authorities where any issues can be sorted out. The ethical policies of an organization are also communicated to the workforce thus ensuring the maintenance of quality relationships amongst the workforce.

However, human resources face various challenges as they strive to achieve their objectives in an organization. Among the common challenges include the issue of technology which has developed intensely in the current age thereby creating the need for highly and efficiently trained workers as described by Ivancevich & Konopaske, (2012). Human resources are responsible for evaluating the skills of the workforce and ensuring that the employees are adequately equipped with the skills and abilities required to enhance their productivity. Additionally, Ivancevich & Konopaske, (2012) explain that the increased diversity among employees in organizations today has resulted into many conflicts as a result of contradicting cultural values which in turn pose a significant threat to the effective functioning of human resources. Nasir, (2017) lists other common challenges faced by the human resources which include embracing and adopting change as made necessary by technology and development, leadership development, nurturing and fostering a culture of learning among the workforce, maintaining standards, among others.

In conclusion, the human resource department in any organization is responsible for ensuring that the company is served with the required adequate and efficient skills and abilities, and human resources satisfy such a need by recruiting skilled workforce and continually training the employees of an organization. Human resource managers ensure that there is effective communication processes to and from the workforce. To effectively achieve such objectives, human resources are expected to overcome such challenges as diversity among employees and other problems that would otherwise disable the department from attaining success.

References

Gill, C., & Meyer, D. (2011). The role and impact of HRM policy. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 19(1), 5-28.

Ivancevich, J., & Konopaske, R. (2012). Human Resource Management: 12th Edition. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

Nasir, S. Z. (2017). Emerging Challenges of HRM in 21st Century: A Theoretical Analysis. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 7(3), 216-223.