Introduction
The role of the human resource management (HRM) department is one of the most significant in any company. It determines the organization’s direction and influences further success and development. In modern business strategies, the emphasis is usually on human capital since, with time, it has proved to bring the most effective results and outcomes of the work. Thus, this paper analyzes the alignment of human resource and business strategies and their impact on productivity.
The Alignment of Human Resource and Business Strategies
Allstate, an organization specializing in insurance, is used in the paper as a decent example of a quality HRM and its establishment in the business process. HR professionals are responsible for recruiting, hiring, adapting, and training employees (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020). Allstate ensures that the human capital and the business strategies align and move in the same way. The company is going from a regular insurance provider status to becoming an innovative creator in the field. Therefore, the HRM searches and trains the employee to think creatively, desire progress and show initiative.
In order to ensure that the organization keeps the HR and business strategy on the same track, I would take several measures. In the first place, I would provide clear definitions of the required qualities and actions from employees or candidates for a job to match the company’s standards. Since Allstate moves towards innovation and creation, I could denote the primary goals and offer workplaces for people with readiness to challenges, the ability to generate brave ideas, and leadership traits. In general, I would regularly analyze the impact of the HRM department’s work on the overall company’s productivity and outcomes of business decisions and make changes if needed.
To maintain the balance, the HRM department has multiple job positions responsible for the human capital’s well-being. Sourcing and hiring talent, for example, manages to interview and test candidates for a job to find the initially suitable person for the company (Human resources career at Allstate, 2022). Performance management evaluates the employees’ progress in the workplace, studies factors that impact the outcomes positively and negatively, and searches for ways of improvement. Employee engagement and retention should keep the people involved and maintain their interest in doing it (Human resources career at Allstate, 2022). For these purposes, human resource specialists create conditions for workers to feel comfortable at work and enjoy their duties.
I would prefer the compensation and benefits department position for several reasons. In addition to employee engagement and retention, this role encourages people to work harder, test their limits, and strive for better results. I understand how proper encouragement can give a feeling of worthiness and importance, improving overall productivity. Since Allstate is shifting from the ordinary insurance company to the design and innovating safety methods for people’s lives or belongings to improve competitive advantages, HRM may focus on developing leadership among employees (Williams, 2020). The company will be highly competitive if at least half of the human capital is active and willing to suggest ideas and solutions autonomously.
Diversity is also a critical part of the company’s success and ability to stay in the leading positions in the market. One of the ways to achieve this is to make the process of hiring non-biased and not let the race or sex of a candidate influence the final decision. Furthermore, the corporate culture, in general, should be inclusive and diverse, promoting the values of equity and respect towards each other. Finally, the company’s management might help to adapt and integrate to the working process people with various cultural backgrounds or disabilities to allow everyone to be a part of the community and work comfortably.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the alignment of human resources and business strategies is a crucial aspect of the company’s success. Human capital should be capable of performing the tasks and demonstrating the qualities that are essential for further progress. Allstate is an example of a company that manages to adjust the work of the human resource department to the business strategies, to achieve high competitiveness to keep growing and evolving. Thus, aligning HR and business directions, strong corporate culture, and diversity contribute to well-coordinated work.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics. Human Resources Specialists. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Web.
Human resources career at Allstate. Allstate. Web.
Williams. A. (2020). Five recommendations for human resource management. Forbes. Web.