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“The planning, organizing, compensation, integration and maintenance of people for the purpose of contributing to organizational, individual and societal goals”.

Edwin B. FlippoCHAPTER OUTLINE

• Introduction • Definition of Staffing

• Nature of Staffing

• Definition of Personnel Management

• Definition of Manpower Planning

• Significance of Manpower Planning

• Importance of Staffing

• Elements of Staffing • Summary.

After studying this chapter, you will be able to

State the concept and importance of staffing.Appreciate the nature of staffing.List and briefly describe the various elements of staffing.State the concept of manpower planning.Highlight the significance of manpower planning.

INTRODUCTION

Staffing is now recognized as a separate management function. Previously it was considered to be a part of organization function of management. The reason for

separating the staffing from organizing is to give proper emphasis to the actual manning of organizational roles.

The staffing function has assumed greater importance these days because of rapid advancement of technology,

increasing size of organizations and complicated behaviour of human beings. The management of the enterprise must

give due importance to human resources planning, recruitment, and selection, training, appraisal and

remuneration of workers.

DEFINITION OF STAFFING A few definitions by some of the prominent writers on the

subject are given below:

(1) “The Managerial function of staffing involves manning the organizational structure through proper and effective selection, appraisal, and development of personnel to fill the roles designed into the structure.”

Koontz and O'Donnell

Thus, manpower planning, procurement (i.e., selection and placement), training, development, appraisal and remuneration of workers are included in staffing.

NATURE OF STAFFING The nature of staffing are as follows: 1- Managerial ResponsibilityStaffing is a basic function of management. Every manager

is continuously engaged in performing the staffing function.

2- Continuous FunctionStaffing function is to be performed continuously. Every

manager is engaged in various staffing activities. He is to guide and train the workers and also evaluate their performance on continuous basis.

3- Concerned with Human ElementStaffing function is concerned with procurement and

development of human resources. Every manager should use human relations skill in providing guidance and training to the subordinates.

IMPORTANCE OF STAFFING The importance of staffing has increased because of the

following factors:

1- Efficient PerformanceThe efficient performance of the company depends on the

quality of the people employed. This has increased the significance of staffing.

2- Use of Latest TechnologyMany significant changes are taking place in technology. In

order to make use of the latest technology, the appointment of right type of persons is necessary.

3- Development of ManpowerThe management has to train and develop the existing

personnel for future promotion. This will meet the requirements of the company in future.

4- Optimum Use of ManpowerManagement has to spend money on recruitment and

selection, training wages, salaries, etc. In order to get the optimum out from the personnel.

5- Proper MotivationThe workers are to be motivated properly through

financial and non-financial incentives.6- Higher MoraleRight type of atmosphere should be created for the

workers to contribute to the achievement of the organizational objectives. This will increase the morale of the employees.

ELEMENTS OF STAFFING PROCESS The scope of staffing is very wide. The elements,

steps or sub-activities of staffing process are as follows:1- Manpower PlanningIt is concerned with the determining the number and

types of staff required for the organization.2- RecruitmentRecruitment is the process of searching prospective

employees and encouraging them to apply for jobs in the enterprise.

3- SelectionSelection is the process of selecting best suited

candidates for the jobs from among those who have applied for these jobs in the enterprise.

4- Placement of PersonnelThe new employees need to familiarized with their

units, supervisors and fellow employees. They should be placed on the jobs for which they are suited.

6- Orientation or Induction Orientation or induction is a process of familiarizing

the new employees with their enterprise, department, work unit, work group, superiors, fellows and subordinates etc.

7- RemunerationCompensation of workers for their efforts involves

fixation of their wages and salaries.8- Training The art of acquiring knowledge and skill of doing a

particular job in a particular manner.9- DevelopmentThe development of knowledge, efficiency and aptitude

of different officers of managerial level so that they may contribute their feeling, cooperation and contribution towards the accomplishment of organizational objectives.

9- Performance AppraisalIt is concerned with the rating or evaluation of the

performance of the employees. Transfer and promotion of staff are based on performance appraisal.

10- Promotion and Transfer Promotion involves the shifting an employee to a

higher position carrying higher responsibilities, facilities, status and pay.

Transfer involves the shifting of an employee from one job to another , one unit to another, or one shift to another.

11- Human Relations

Every manager is responsible for achieving good human relations in the organization.

PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT DEFINITION PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

A few definitions by some of the prominent writers on the subject are given below:

(1) “Personnel management is that phase of management which deals with the effective control and use of manpower”

Dale Yoder

(2) “The planning, organizing, compensation, integration and maintenance of people for the purpose of contributing to organizational, individual and social goals”

Edwin B. Flippo

It is the tendency in modern enterprises to create a separate department known as personnel department to perform the staffing function. But it does not mean that the line managers do not have the responsibility for staffing. The personnel department is created to provide the necessary help to the managers in performing the staffing or personnel function.

Personnel ManagerIn most organizations, personnel department is set up

under the charge of a personnel manager. The personnel department serves as a service department. It performs various personnel functions assigned to it by the other departments. The personnel manager enjoys the status of a specialist in personnel matters. Normally, persons with post-graduate qualifications in personnel management and industrial relations are preferred for this post.

MANPOWER PLANNING Manpower planning means to see whether the person to

whom some work is assigned are capable to do it or not. The essence of manpower planning is the right man on the right job and the right job for the right man.

DEFINITION OF MANPOWER PLANING A few definitions by some of the prominent writers on

the subject are given below:

(1) “The process of determining and assuring that the organization will have an adequate number of qualified personnel”

Dele S. Beach(2) “Manpower planning means forecasting prediction of

the number of the people whom the organization will have to hire, train or promote in a given period ”

Sayles and Gerge Sirauss

Thus, it may be concluded that manpower planning involves the estimation of size and quality of the work force required by the enterprise to a accomplish its desired objectives.

Significance of Manpower PlanningManpower planning is an essential activity because of the

following factors:1) Shortage or surplus of manpower will be revealed by

manpower planning, corrective steps can be taken in time.

2) Manpower forecasting provides a basis for recruitment, transfer and training of employees.

3) It reduces labour cost by avoiding surplus manpower, over-staffing can be known quickly

4) It helps in identifying talent available in the organization. Training for promotion could be given to the talented employees

5) It helps in the growth and diversification of business. Suitable manpower is made available to handle jobs.

6) It leads to greater awareness of the significance of sound personnel management throughout the enterprise.

SUMMARYIn this chapter, You have gone through different

dimensions of nature and process of staffing. After going through the chapter, be sure that the following facts are

well versed.Meaning of StaffingThe management function of staffing involves

managing the organization structure through proper and effective selection, appraisal and development of personnel to fill the roles designed into the structure.

Nature of StaffingThe nature of staffing are as follows:Managerial responsibility; Continuous function;

Concerned with human element.Importance of Staffing Successful staffing function provides the following

benefits:Efficient performance; Use of latest technology;

Development of manpower; Optimum use of manpower; Proper motivation; Higher morale.

Elements of StaffingStaffing is a continuous process and includes some

inter-dependent activities as follows:Manpower planning ; Recruitment ; Selection ; Placement

of personnel ; Induction ; Remuneration ; Training ; Development; Performance appraisal ; Promotion and transfer ; Human relations.

Meaning of Manpower PlanningManpower planning is a technique to estimate and

forecast the manpower requirements for an enterprise taking into consideration the existing and future objects of the enterprise. The estimates of human resources requirements are based on the future plans of production expansion, nature of technology and structure of enterprises.