Business Ethics and Corporate Governance, Second Edition

GENESIS AND GROWTH OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

HRM as a management function and as a tool of corporate administration has gone through an eventful evolutionary process over time. Prior to the 1970s, this managerial function was referred to by its traditional nomenclature namely, Personnel Management or Personnel Administration. After 1990, it has been referred to as Human Resource Management since it covers a much wider and at the same time more inclusive areas of people management, that is, the energies, skills, knowledge, talent and imagination of people in enterprises. The growth and evolution of HRM is traced as follows:

• 1890–1910: It was during the late 19th century that Frederick W. Taylor formulated scientific management. This scientific ...