- July 10, 2014
- Posted by: admin
- Category: Current News
The role of human resources management in organisations has evolved over the years with special focus being on strategic human resources management (SHRM). SHRM is based on the principle that human resources strategies should be merged into corporate business strategies. Since organisations achieve their business strategies through people, this integration is necessary to provide alignment of business and human resources strategy, so that the people support the realization of the corporate strategy. Human resources practitioners are expected to understand their business and be able to convert business strategy into people issues.
With this in mind, the human resources workshops which are conducted by the Multi-Disciplinary Activities (MDA) have become a much sought after event that provides practitioners with a platform to share knowledge, information and latest trends in human resources management. The 2014 edition of the event was held in Nairobi, Kenya from the 3rd to the 7th of March 2014. The workshop was attended by 29 officials from eleven (11) member countries. Participants were drawn from central banks, ministries of finance as well as economic planning. Three (3) highly experienced human resources practitioners from the MEFMI region were the resource persons at the workshop.
The workshop was officially opened by Professor Njuguna Ndungu, Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya. The Governor pointed out that the central theme of the workshop – Strategic Human Resources Management was pertinent in this era were human capital is a highly priced resource that ensures continued existence of organisations. He noted that although human beings are the driving force behind organisations, member countries had not provided enough support for human resources departments to carry out this strategic role.
This role, he said, requires human resources practitioners to partner with management and to have a seat at the decision-making table in order to ensure alignment of human resources strategy to business. The Governor underscored the need by human resources leaders to design and implement innovative strategic plans that will lead to increased employee engagement and productivity. He implored the participants to embrace techniques that will enable their organizations to transform into a strategic partner delivering value for the business.
The objectives of the workshop were as follows:
(a) To share experiences on the key human resource management trends that are changing organizations ;
(b) To expose participants to key strategic issues in human resource management;
(c) To discuss human resource management’s role and alignment as a strategic business partner;
(d) To learn about issues of ethics in human resource management;
(e) To strengthen networking amongst peers on the emerging human resource issues confronting the member states.
The workshop provided the participants with practical knowledge and skills on strategic human resources management. They received current knowledge and information on key human resources management trends that are changing organisations. The workshop also enhanced participants’ understanding of issues of ethics at work and best practices in Codes of Ethics.
What also came out strongly was the fact that most countries represented at the workshop need to invest in strategic human resources management by providing and reviewing the necessary structures to enable human resources professionals to carry out the strategic role. Very few member countries have human resources strategic plans which are aligned to their corporate business plans.