FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR HRM

Over the recent years, significant changes have taken place in the social, economic, technological and political environment of Indian businesses. The governments policy for economic liberalization and stimulating globalization of businesses has brought many opportunities and threats for the modern organization. The HR professionals cannot ignore such changes, rather they have to develop, design and execute competencies of HR to prepare them for: Changing internal environment Changing needs and expectations of customers Changing profile of workforce Advancement of technology Revolution in IT sector Economic and individual policy changes

The above trends will have a tremendous impact on the tasks of HR managers who will have to act as change agents or change facilitators.

Emerging Issues and Challenges:

1. Globalization: National policies are being influenced significantly by extra national forces on a variety of economic, social and labour matters. Problems and decisions in one part of the world affect prospects in other parts of the world and shape the events elsewhere. The impact of globalization can be observed from the following trends: Integration of economies Globalization has resulted in opening up of vast markets which can be tapped by big industries, which is possible only when there are harmonious relations between labour and management. Global benchmarking Globalization has resulted in striving for highest quality of products and processes so that they are competitive in the world markets. Change in the management Styles (participative management styles) Future of public enterprises Public enterprises will have to increase their efficiency so that they can be competitive.

2. Technological Advancements: With the changes coming in the wake of advance technology, new jobs are created and many old ones become redundant. In this competitive world, today a company cannot hope to survive for long with the old technology. The problem of unemployment resulting from

modernization will be solved by assessing manpower needs and training of redundant employees in attaining newer skills. 3. IT Revolution- IT revolution is about real-time access and sharing of digital information consisting of visual images, sound & virtual world, made possible by core information technology like digital networks, information databanks & computer graphics. The IT revolution is transforming our living & work conditions beyond imagination. To meet the challenges of information age the organization are redefining their missions, objectives, strategies, critical success factors & restructuring traditional pyramid type organizational structures to the new organizational structures. 4. Changes in political-legal environment- There might be greater government intervention in the near future to safeguard the interest of workers, consumers and the public at large. Government participation in trade, commerce and industry will also pose many challenges before management of private sector firms. Many changes are taking place in the legal framework within which the industrial relations system in the country is now functioning. It is the duty of hr & ir executives to fully examine the implication of the changes & bring about necessary changes. 5. Role of Government- The role of government in management of human resources is assuming even greater importance in the port liberalized era. Government has to play a dynamic & facilitative role in regulating the relationship between two parties. 6. Changes in Workforce(1) (2) (3) (4) Increase in education levels Change in skill levels Wisdom workers Age group & aspiration of workers

Meeting Challenges: Tasks of HR Managers: The HR Manager will have to face many challenges. Rapidly changing technology and tremendous pace of development in the economy would demand significant and substantial contribution from the personnel mangers. These managers will have to play a vital role by preparing human resources for such changes in the organizations goals. 1. Managing workforce diversity An important challenge that HR mangers will face involves workforce diversity and the increasing heterogeneity of organizations with the inclusion of workers from different groups, such as women, physically disabled persons, retired defence personnel, backward classes, etc. Thus workforce diversity has significant implications for management. The mangers will be required to shift their approach from treating each

group of workers alike to recognizing the difference among them and following such policies so as to encourage creativity, improving production, etc. 2. Meeting Aspirations of the employees Todays workers are more career oriented and are clear about the lifestyle they want to lead. The mangers would be required to evolve appropriate techniques to satisfy higher level needs of workers. 3. Empowerment of Employees Empowerment involves efforts to take full advantage of organizations HR by giving everyone more information and control over how they perform their jobs. Various techniques of empowerment range from participation in decision making to the use of self managed teams. 4. Management of HR relations This would be a complicated task than it is today. Since workforce in future will comprise of better educated and self conscious workers, they will ask for higher degree of participation. 5. Dynamic personnel policies and programmes HR manager of tomorrow will not only look after personnel functions but will also be involved in Hr policies and programmes for the entire organization. Thus management of HR will receive greater attention of all managers from top to bottom. Every HRM programme will have to be properly planned and directed by HR manager in consultation with other managers. 6. Building responsive Organization HR managers will have to contribute tremendously to the building up of responsive organization.