Sunday, October 20, 2002		Books

Formulating HR strategies
P. K. Vasudeva

Human Resource Strategy: Architecture for Change
by Ashok, Chanda and Shilpa Kabra. Response Books, New Delhi. Pages 313. Rs 450.

IN an increasingly competitive world, business organisations try to outperform each other. Herein, human resource (HR) plays an important and decisive role. In order to face extremely competitive situations, it is essential that business organisations align their HR strategies to achieve business goals.

It is generally noticed that various approaches adopted by organisations to improve performance have wide ranging implications. This book discusses the strategic approach that is needed to cope with the changing business environment. Thus, it provides the framework for the change required in policies, practices and systems, especially with reference to the most precious resource that exists within an organisation — the human resources.

The authors have given a six-step model containing their human resources vision. The six steps described by the authors are: Building the HR vision, scanning the environment, auditing competencies and resources, seeing other strategic business plans, defining objectives and integrating action plans. The model then moves on to audit the organisation’s competencies, resources, and strategic business plans to lead to the formulation of objectives and consequently the implementation of the action plan.

It is a well-known fact that the case method is the best way of teaching management principles, especially in the context of human resources. In this volume the authors have given a detailed case for study so that readers understand every aspect of HR.

According to Jauch and Glueck in Business Policy and Strategic Management, there are six stages of analysis: factual, pre-analytical, analytical, problem solving, decision-making and implementation. The authors have quoted Glueck in solving the cases. You should first read the case carefully, marking the parts you feel are important. Go through the case again and try to list major opportunities, threats, problems and so on, and evolve alternate strategies which you feel are best suited to the objectives of the organisation. You should also suggest how the organisation should implement the suggested strategy. The case in this volume primarily analyses the organisation’s current situation in general, and then focuses on the HR environment prevailing within and outside the organisation to draw a suitable HR strategy in line with the six steps suggested by the authors in the beginning of the book.

The book, which is interspersed with several real-life examples, exhibits and illustrations, contains a unique set of exercises in each chapter. With its practice-based approach, the book will be indispensable for CEOs, management consultants and students of HR.