Introduction
The essay addresses the role World Health
Organisation (WHO) in relation to
globalisation. It aims to assess the
role of WHO in improving global public health, particularly in Indonesia. It focuses
on the policy and programme of reducing
child mortality rate in Indonesia as the example of how an international
organisation act globally.
The essay is
structured into four sections. The first section is introduction which contains aim and the
structure of the essay. The second section is theory.
It defines the concept of globalisation and proposes
universalisation as the definition of globalisation. The second section also gives
a brief description about WHO. The third section assesses the role of WHO as
an international organisation in relation to globalisation. It focusses on the effort of WHO in improving
public health in Indonesia particularly in reducing child mortality rate. The
section also analyses the adoption of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by
Indonesian Government and its relationship with the role of WHO. The last
section is conclusion. The essay
concludes that WHO as international organisations has a crucial role to
improve health quality in developing countries. However, the performance of WHO
in a country still depends on the supports of its partners, especially the
government.
The Theory of Globalisation
and WHO
Globalisation
Globalisation is a concept that tries to portrait the integration and
interconnectedness of people in the world (Jones, 2006, p112-113). Many
experts agree that globalisation is processes that picture the transformation of social connection activities beyond
states and regions (Jones, 2006, p112-113). Holton (2011, p185) said that globalisation is a range of ‘cross-border phenomena’
relationship of significant issues. He gave examples on how recent social
activities are located on forms of communication, ‘inter-dependence’ and
‘inter-connection’ rather than lie on states, regions, localities or national
affiliation (Holton, 2011, p185). In here, Holton argued that globalisation
cannot be translated into a single master system. His argument is
based on two reasons. First, globalisation is a set of inter-locking, tough sometimes conflicting, trends. Secondly, recent development
shows that the systemic element cannot be
found. In addition, there is a
dispute in measuring the power of the global capitalist economy.
From demography view, globalisation is linked to geographical borders (O’ Brien,
1992, in Hartungi, 2006, p729). In
here, globalisation covers international and multinational activities.
International activities happen between different countries while the
multinational involves many countries. Recent research shows that globalisation brings many improvements in all aspect, from financial,
economy, technology and sociology. On the other hand, it contributes to the
climate change that one of the impacts is a biophysical
vulnerability (O’ Brien and Leichenko, 2000, p224). The climate change also
causes social vulnerability because the degradation of land can decrease the
quality and the quantity of food in certain areas affected. As the effect, it
can affect the public health.
In a broad conceptualisation, globalisation is “the
extension of social relations over the globe” (Mann, 2001, in El-Ojeili and Hayden, 2006, p13). It refers to
the improvement of human social organisations in connecting distant
communities and expanding their influence across the world. There are four
concepts that can be used to understand the conceptualisation.
First, “stretched social relations”. It is circumstances where events or
processes in a location affect other parts of the world. Secondly,
“intensification of flows”. It is proven
by the escalation of interaction in all aspects. Thirdly, ‘increasing
interpenetration’. In here, the interpenetration of social and economic
practices is increasing as the result of social relation improvement. It also
opens opportunities for different and distant cultures to interact. Finally,
‘global infrastructure’. It is institutional arrangements that are bases for
the network to operate (Cochrane and Pain, 2000, in El-Ojeili and Hayden, 2006, p13).
Universalisation
Globalisation can be
defined as universalisation (Scholte, 2008, p1473). It Illustrates a
process of spreading universal values, concepts and knowledge to all people.
In here, globalisation is assumed to use or implement a uniformity in a
diverse world. For example, the attempt of economists
to uniform prices for goods or services
(Bradford and Lawrence, 2004, in Scholte, 2008, p1473). On the one hand,
universalisation means ‘globalisation as homogenisation’. It aims to create
uniformity in several aspects. On the other hand, it can improve innovation
and promote cultural diversity (Scholte, 2008, p1473). From the statement, living
in a uniformity situation would attract creativity or innovation from the
society.
Universalisation aims to links people around the
world and treat them to the same extent
(Scholte, 2008, p1496). One concept that is
spread through universalisation is the importance of the recognition
of human rights (Waters, 1996, p597). An example of the recognition is The
Universal Declaration of Human Right in 1948. It shows that universalisation intents to spread ideas, particularly the
recognition of human rights. On the other hand, Scholte argued that the
achievement of universalisation is various.
It is related to some factors, such as
territorial position (Scholte, 2008, p1496). Compared to western European
countries, southern Asian countries get less impact of universalisation or globalisation.
The distortion in globalisation also happens among regions or locals in a
country. For instance, remote regions experience fewer impacts of globalisation rather than coastal regions.
World Health Organisation
(WHO)
WHO is an international organisation under United
Nations (UN) that aims to build a better and healthier environment for
everyone. WHO began on 7 April 1948. It was a result of a discussion amongst
diplomats that formed United Nations (WHO, 2017a, n.p.). It was continued by the first World Health
Assembly that formally approved the
constitution (Brown, et al., 2006, p64). WHO has three major constituent
parts. First, the World Health Assembly. It is the general policy-making
body. It arranges a meeting
annually. Secondly, an Executive Board of Health Specialist. The executive board is elected by the Assembly
for a three-year term. Lastly, WHO has
a Secretariat that organised and run the organisation. The Secretariat has regional
offices and officers throughout the world (Jones, 2006, p234). Related to the
funding, the main financial contributors are member governments. The contribution based on the relative
ability of the members to pay (Jones, 2006, p234).
The aim of WHO is furthering international
cooperation in improving health
condition (Jones, 2006, p234). It works together with governments to raise
the quality and the health level of people (WHO, 2017a, n.p.). In here,
health means “a state of complete, physical, mental, and social well-being
and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO in Jones, 2006,
p234). To achieve the aim, WHO also works with other partners that also have
a concern in health matters. WHO and
the partners strive to eradicate several health problems. They combat infectious diseases such as HIV and influenza,
or ‘non-communicable diseases’ such as cancer and heart disease. They work to
reduce infant, baby and mother mortality rates. They also concern to ensure
the quality of air, water and food for people. Related to health services, WHO and the partners try to improve the
quality of medicines and vaccines and its distribution to the recipients
(WHO, 2017a, n.p.).
Within the UN system, WHO has authorities to give
direction and build coordination in improving global health (WHO, 2017a, n.p.). In here, WHO has several responsibilities.
First, ‘providing leadership’. It aims to solve critical cases in health matters and partnership cases where joint
action is needed. Secondly, WHO plan the ‘research agenda’. It organises
health research and the dissemination of valuable and recent knowledge of the research. Thirdly, WHO sets
‘norms and standards’. It aims to uniform and direct the implementation of
health services. Fourthly, WHO translates policy options that adopt ‘ethical and evidence-based’ approaches.
WHO also provide ‘technical support’. It gives guidance for the
implementation of WHO programmes. It is important for dealing with unexpected
events or programme sustainability. Lastly, WHO performs ‘monitoring’. It records and studies data about health condition and health trends (WHO, 2017a, n.p.).
The Role of WHO in Relation to Globalisation
Brown, et al., (2006, p62) said: “WHO is an intergovernmental agency that exercises
international functions with the goal of improving global health”. Some
points can be drawn from the statement.
First, as an intergovernmental agency, WHO is an organisation of countries that have a concern in health matter. Secondly, it
has an international function. The
organisation can exercise its function across the boundaries of the countries.
Finally, WHO aims to improve global health. In general, ‘global health’ prioritises
health services provision of all
people above the country bureaucracy (Brown, et al., 2006, p62). It is an
upgrading from the previous term, ‘international health’, that refers to the
attempt of countries in combating the spreading of diseases (Brown, et al., 2006,
p62).
Related to the
attempts of WHO in performing global action, there are several initiative programmes
that involves international partners. In the mid-1950s, WHO launched “global
malaria eradication programme” (Brown, et al., 2006, p62). It then was
followed by campaigns of WHO in countries which were endemic of the disease. WHO
also supports research that have a
relation with global health (Brown, et al., 2006, p69). From the research,
WHO can identify threats to global
health. WHO, therefore, can warn its members to take preventive actions to
tackle the threats (Kickbush, 2003, p384). WHO can also direct its member to
adopt new knowledge related to health problems.
The attempt to spreading health knowledge can be initiated from a small scale. It can also
use a mediating institution to ease the goals. For instance, in early 1980,
WHO European Regional Office build a community network that involved local authorities,
universities, schools, hospitals, and professionals (Kickbusch, 2003, p385).
The network aimed to spread new health policy through
several collaborators. It can be done
by arranging meetings, publications, discussion and dissemination. By using
this mechanism, the information can spread more effective than if did only by
one organisation. Then, the new concept
of health promotion can be adopted by other regional offices. As a result, it
can improve global health. In here, WHO develops health targets from organisational
to international scope.
WHO in Indonesia
As an international organisation
that deals with health matters, WHO has a crucial role in spreading new concepts and knowledge to its
members. One of WHO’s tasks is providing ‘technical support’ (WHO,
2017a, n.p.). In here WHO gives advice
and directions to its members in dealing with health matters. In Indonesia,
WHO gives ‘technical support’ in several areas or functions (WHO, 2008, p20).
First, ‘technical support for collaborative interventions’. It focusses on public
health priorities. Secondly, it gives ‘policy support for health system
development’. It analyses health data
and proposes ideas and concepts related
to the health system. Thirdly, ‘Support
for donor-assisted initiatives to improve health’. WHO facilitates and
assists the donors in making the funds give
significant impacts. Fourthly, ‘Advocacy and technical support for
emerging priorities in health’. It supports health initiatives based on
estimation on the future. Next, ‘Technical support for emergency preparedness
and response’. In here, WHO mitigates the relationship between emergencies
and health impacts. Lastly, WHO gives ‘other forms of technical support’. It
covers the evaluation of the programme, needs identification, technical
meeting and training (WHO, 2008, p20).
WHO has a country office in Indonesia. Having a
representative office can benefit both WHO and Indonesian Government (WHO,
2008, p21). First, both WHO and the Ministry of Health can arrange frequent
meetings more often. They can share ideas or opinion and find the best
solution to tackle health problems in the country. Secondly, to reach wider
scope, WHO places staffs at provincial and district levels. The
presence of WHO in those levels can either ease the technical support
provision or detect local health problems
faster. Thirdly, related to the
implementation of health system in
Indonesia, WHO providing experts and technical advisors (WHO, 2008, p21). In here, WHO can give advice and assist the implementation of a sufficient
health system in Indonesia, based on WHO experiences. From the explanation,
WHO aims to improve the quality of
health provision especially in developing countries. The effort of WHO in
spreading knowledge, therefore, shows the role of WHO in globalisation,
particularly the improvement of global health.
The attempt of WHO in improving health in Indonesia faces
several obstacles (WHO, 2008, p21). First, WHO has limited fund to implement
the programmes. It causes WHO must give priority to the more urgent
programmes. One solution that can solve the problem is by exercising
partnership with other stakeholders (WHO,
2017b, n.p.). In here, WHO can work together with other partners or donors to
solve funding problems. Secondly, as an international organisation, WHO has many technical programmes that are globally or regionally organised. The
implementation of global or regional policies might
be insufficient with the local priorities and needs (WHO, 2008, p22).
In Indonesia, WHO involves many local partners and hire local staffs. WHO also
arranges regular meetings with the government. By involving local personnel
and doing regular meetings, WHO might give a leeway to the country office to
change or modify a health programme policy. Thirdly, the prospect of
collaboration with other partners is
limited because WHO staff and fund are linked or seen as under specific units
or programmes of the government. Finally, WHO needs more experienced and
loyal staff to support technical, administrative, and financial matters. They
are needed to maintain the sustainability of WHO programmes.
As the concern for
health matters, WHO support the declaration of the United Nations Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs). It contains eight
goals that the member states have agreed to achieve by the year 2015. WHO
argued that all goals in MDGs are interdependent
and related with health matter (WHO, 2017c, n.p.). For example, better
education can give knowledge to the people to get better health. On the other
hand, better health can ease children to get a better education.
One of the goals
of MDGs is to reduce child mortality. One of the concerns of child mortality is
infant mortality. Related to MDGs, Indonesian
government has formed a regulation about infant health. The regulation is a
decree that is issued in 2014 by the
Minister of Health (MoH). Compared to the launching of MDGs, the enactment of the decree takes 14 years after
the launching or a year before the programme ends.
Table 1. Infant Mortality Rate in Indonesia
1990 – 2012
In 2012, infant mortality rate reached 34 per 1,000
live birth (Statistic Indonesia, 2017, n.p.) It was far from target set, 23
per 1,000 live birth. To tackle the problem, Ministry of Health Republic of
Indonesia launched several programmes (MoH, 2010, n.p). First, birth planning
and complication prevention programme. Secondly, the government intensifies
the use of Child Immunisation Card. Lastly, the government distributes Health Operational Grant to all
community health posts in Indonesia. The programmes are designed to improve
the quality of health, especially reducing infant and mother mortality rate. The
programmes are aligned with the
programmes from WHO. In here, WHO has promoted the importance of reducing
child mortality to Indonesian
government. WHO, therefore, has a crucial role in globalisation, particularly
improving global public health.
MDGs ended in
2015. To sustain the programme, UN launches the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs). Related with SDGs, WHO have a critical role in the implementation of
the programme. They can promote and assist SDGs in the country members (WHO,
2015, n.p.). As the country that signed SDGs, Indonesia must work hard to
achieve the targets. As Indonesia did not achieve targets in MDGs (MoH, 2016,
p1), the Minister of Health expected active participation from all stakeholders. In here, WHO as the global
agency that deals with the health agendas, is expected to assist the country
to achieve the targets.
The effort of WHO to achieve targets in SDGs needs
active participation from other stakeholders.
In here, WHO also can collaborate with other organisations. For instance,
WHO, Unicef, Worldbank and United Nations forms the ‘Inter-agency Group for Child
Mortality Estimation’ (UN-IGME). It aims to provide an accurate estimation of child mortality and monitors
the achievement of child survival goals in the country members (You, et al.,
2011, p2). The estimation is very useful to produce better global planning,
health strategies and implementation of the policies. On the one hand, the
collaboration can adjust the progress on child health. They can provide more
accurate data based on their experience and network (Groupa, 2006, p229).
They can also share funds because it
involves World Bank as the donor. On the other hand, related to bureaucracy matter, it can delay the
progress of the programme. For example, World Bank as the donor could set a
straight direction related to the use
of fund (Brown, et al.,
2006, p68), it can make other organisations spend much time to comply. Also,
the timing of the collaboration might be different with WHO’s programmes. It might require WHO to
re-arrange the programme that has been already
set.
Conclusion
The existence of World Health Organisation (WHO) as
an international organisation in a country is very important. It can help the
country to encourage their effort in improving public health and diminish the
health quality gap between developed and less developed countries. They can
perform actions in transferring and spreading knowledge
and innovation to improve health qualities on its members. WHO can maximise
the effort in improving global public health by performing a collaboration with other partners. The
collaboration can be used to execute some agendas simultaneously. Although the focus of the collaboration
might be different with WHO’s, the
aims of the collaboration will be useful in improving global public health.
It is because WHO can touch aspects such as education to maximise its role in
improving global health.
The effort of WHO in improving global public health
cannot be made only by transferring
knowledge from developed countries to developing countries. WHO must consider
the situations in a country before runs an international programme. In doing
its function to give ‘technical support’, WHO must realise that a country has
its characteristics that might require special treatment or policy. Also, the efforts of WHO in improving public
health in a country will not achieve success if the government does not
support it optimally.
(Word Count: 3,001 exclude table)
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Kamis, 27 Februari 2020
The Role of WHO as International Organisation in Relation to Globalisation
Kamis, 20 Februari 2020
‘Hard’ and ‘Soft’ Model of HRM
Most modern organisations need a Human Resource
Management (HRM) to manage their employees. An HRM can build a good
relationship between top management and their employees. It also can give a
significant contribution to organisation’s development (Marchington &
Zagelmeyer, 2005, p. 3). It is because HRM functions not only as an organisation’s
division but also as a media for the employee to express and bargain their
demands.
Having best employees in every position is challenging
because every organisation has limitations or problems. HRM Department which
deals with this activity should have an ability to translate organisation’s
needs and place ‘limited’ human source on the right place. One of the most
significant roles of HRM is seen in the recruitment process. It can select
either promoting junior staffs or hire new workers to fulfil a vacancy
(Leopold 2002, p. 66-67). HRM Department then, must be able to formulate
organisation’s need and find the best way to hire the best candidate to deal
with the jobs.
The role of HRM in the recruitment process is crucial
because they put someone in a position. The result of the decision will show
whether the recruitment is a success or not. In some cases, they might have
problems to make this process done effectively. An HRM department can pick
recruitment models or approaches that fit with them. It is because they have
to measure costs and manage time so they can spend less money and hire employees
as soon as possible.
This essay explains the role of HRM in the recruitment
process and analyses options for HRM to recruit employees. The first part
explains ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ model of HRM. It is followed by a brief
explanation of recruitment steps from job analysis until assessment centre.
The next part of the essay analyses two models of HRM and its relationship
with approaches is recruitment process. The last part is the conclusion of
the essay.
Theory
HRM term has a connection with personnel function such: staffing
(planning, recruitment process, and selection of candidates); rewards (systems,
assessment and administration);
employee improvement; employee maintenance (health and safety); and employee
interaction (Leopold, 2002, p. 7). In a more general perspective, Schneider
& Barsoux in Bowen, Galang & Pillai (2002), states
“the whole idea of human resource management seems
embedded in an assumption that people can be utilised like other factors of production
which can be bought and sold and whose value must be maximised, even exploited”.
From this perspective, HRM is expected to force
employees to work harder to benefit the organisation.
Saha (2003, p. 62) divided HRM form into two models,
‘hard’ and ‘soft’ HRM. He explained that hard model concerns on how an
organisation implements its strategic fit, such as recruitment process, staff
distribution and workforce maximising. He also added that this approach more
likely wants to quantify output from the employees, their contribution, and
their task achievement.
Jenkins and Delbridge (2013, p. 2673) defined ‘hard’
approach in the way HRM engage with employees. This approach refers to an understanding
that increasing employee productivity impacts in increasing the ability to
compete of an organisation. The focus of ‘hard’ HRM is on the ‘resource’ aspects of HRM where
organisations find ways to increase competitive advantage by pushing their employees to
boost their effort (Jenkins and Delbridge, 2013, p. 2673). In addition to the
hard model of HRM, Leopold, Harris & Watson (2005, p. 28)
introduced ‘low commitment’ HR strategy. The authors describe the strategy
as:
“Follow hire and fire principles with labour being
acquired at the point when it is immediately needed. Workers are allocated to
task for which they need very little training with their employment being
terminated when those task no longer need to be completed. The
organisation-workers relationship is an ‘arms-length and calculatingly
instrumental one”.
On the other hand, Saha (2013, p. 62-63) explained the
‘soft’ model as a strategic mechanism to develop an ideal workplace because
placing individuals in a strategic position. In this model, employees are an
important stakeholder in any strategic decision related to them (Saha, 2013,
p. 63). Jenkins and Delbridge (2013, p. 2673) explained that the emphasis of
‘soft’ approach of HRM lies on ‘human’ dimension in managing people.
The focus of ‘soft’ HRM is on management practices which
search ways to increase employee satisfaction (Jenkins and Delbridge, 2013,
p. 2673). The concerns of the soft model are adaptability to a certain
situation, negotiation, job enjoyment, developing ideal work situation and
small employee changing rates. This approach promotes several features such
as involvement strategies, proactive management and the implementation of strong organisational practices (Jenkins and
Delbridge, 2013, p. 2673).
In addition to soft HRM, Leopold, Harris & Watson
(2005, p. 27) explained ‘high commitment’ strategies of HRM. In this model,
management finds ways to enclose their relationship with the employees to
make them feel involved with the organisation. The organisation expects their
workers to work in the longer term and various tasks, therefore, it provides
many opportunities to develop their career (Leopold, Harris & Watson
2005, p. 27).
Role of HRM in recruitment
One of the functions of HRM is recruiting new employee
into a new position in the organisation. Simpson in Leopold (2002, p. 53)
states that recruitment is one of the crucial tasks by HRM in any
organisation. Leopold, Harris & Watson (2005, p.141) argued that ‘normal’
view of recruitment process lies on a condition that if the organisation get
an improper employee, there will be difficulties. Traditionally, the methods of
recruitment are simple and based on local areas. As based on limited areas, the
methods can only reach a small group of potential candidates and therefore
reduce the opportunity for the organisation to hire employees with
appropriate skill (Leopold, 2002, p. 55). Another traditional method of
recruitment in an organisation is recruiting a member of family and
colleagues of existing employees. It may be seen as an appropriate concept of
recruitment than as nepotism (Leopold, 2002, p. 56).
Leopold (2002, p. 60) explained recruitment process from
the very basic question, is there a vacancy? Instead of replacing workers who
had left, an organisation can reorganise their staffs by doing several
opinions such as mechanisation, extra hour scheme, or using labour agency
(Leopold, 2002, p. 61). Recruitment is needed if the organisation realises
that new employees or talented candidates can fit and be able to contribute
to the organisation (Leopold, 2002, p. 62).
The next stage is job analysis or the mechanism to gain
and evaluate information about the detail of the job. It contributes to
clarify crucial facts relating to the job performance. The result may be
specified as excellent, average or disappointing performance. If the focus of
the job analysis is job performance, prediction of success can be made by the
result (Leopold, 2002, p. 63).
After job analysis stage, the organisation provides a
job description and person specification. Job description informs the
applicants about the detail of the job. It contains purposes, tasks, and
responsibilities of new employees in the organisation (Ingham, 2015, p. 257).
An organisation needs to specify their new employees by setting person
specification. A recruiter in this stage plays a role in comparing ‘ideal’ and ‘real’ candidates (Leopold, 2002, p. 64). In this
comparison, the recruiter focuses on the personal ability related to the job.
The organisation can promote their vacancy trough advertisements to gain many
applicants. Media for this advertisements depends on the organisation’s appropriateness and cost (Leopold, 2002,
p. 68).
The next step of the recruitment stages is the
selection. The recruiter implements selection to find the ‘appropriate’
candidates that are capable and enthusiastic of occupying the vacancy
(Leopold, 2002, p. 79). Selection is a crucial process because some
individuals are more capable to some organisation because of tasks, function
and organisations are different (Leopold, Harris &
Watson, 2005, p. 140). In selection stage, the interview is the most popular
method (Leopold 2002, p. 92). It is used to decide the capability of the
candidates to the job (Ingham, 2015, p. 257 ). An HRM department can apply an
assessment centre to address many elements in the recruitment process. The assessment
centre is an integral selection method where candidates must pass an assessment
by competent assessors (Leopold, 2002, p. 94).
Analysis
Implementation of ‘Hard’ and ‘Soft’ Model of HRM
HRM connects employees with their organisation. To do
this function, HRM faces a problematic situation, because human resources are
provided by human beings (Leopold, Harris & Watson. 2005 p. 12). People
are independent and have their willingness, but if they are in ‘lower’ level
of a situation, they are pleased to be managed (Leopold, Harris & Watson.
2005 p. 12). The employees work the organisation to get profit and the
organisation also wants to get profit by using its employees. In this situation,
HRM department has a significant role because they bridge those needs, from employer side and workers side.
There are two approaches of how HRM deals with
employees, ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ model. The ‘hard’ model is based on lower
commitment strategies of the HRM. An organisation implements low commitment
strategies in HRM if the most important source of the business strategies is
not the employees (Leopold, Harris & Watson 2005, p. 28). In this situation, the organisation can recruit and substitute
the employees easily. For instance, an organisation which operates simple technology and
more direct business activities are not likely to require a more complex relation. On the
other hand, the organisation needs to apply high commitment strategies in some situations.
The organisation needs to focus on managing their employees because they are the major
source of the business. The organisation applies the strategies to maintain
workers who have a special skill, excellent education and creativity so they can work longer
(Leopold, Harris & Watson, 2005, p. 28).
‘Traditional’ and ‘Best Practices’ Approaches in
Recruitment
An HRM department must be able to organise the workforce
to make an organisation work well and maximising its resources to gain the
maximum profit. The duties of HRM Department in the recruitment process are
selecting the most appropriate and talented candidates,
hiring potential and experienced new employees, and placing competent workers
in appropriate places.
Leopold, Harris & Watson (2005 p. 141) divided
recruitment approaches into two models, ‘traditional’ and ‘best practice’
model. They argued that traditional model emphasises on ‘low’ commitment to
human resourcing strategies (2005, p. 174) which is related to the hard model
of HRM. On the other hand, ‘best practice’ in recruitment process emphasises
on ‘high’ commitment which is related to the ‘soft’ HRM.
Leopold, Harris and Watson (2005, p. 144) explained some
characteristics of the traditional approach. Firstly, the focus of this
approach is ‘job’. HRM try to predict candidates’ job performance by measuring
individual capabilities. The measurement is to select the candidates who
attain the closest details of job specifications. Organisations that
apply this view can get employees to the highest levels of job
specification’s matches. One of the drawbacks of this focus is that the
organisation finds the new employees only to replace previous workers who
worked well in the particular job. This focus also shows a static form of the
job and therefore underestimates the dynamics of organisations (Atkinson in
Leopold, Harris & Watson, 2005, p. 144). Also, it overestimates
individual criteria that stimulate job performance. Organisations expect its employees to work in best performance but do not treat
differences among individual as a crucial problem that needs various actions (p. 144).
Secondly, the management in this view has a prerogative
power over the candidates. They perform ‘one-way decision-making processes’
in which the recruiting manager sort out the passive applicants and then select and hire the
best candidates (Leopold, Harris and Watson, 2005, p. 145). This view has two
consequences, if the organisation gets the best candidates who attain organisation’s aims, then the
recruitment process is effective (McGrellis,
2013, p. 125). Otherwise, if the result
of recruitment is hiring candidates with average or poor performance, then the organisation needs
to modify their recruitment process (McGrellis, 2013, p. 125).
Finally, Schneider in Leopold, Harris and Watson (2005,
p. 145) added that the traditional approach stresses on ‘fit’ between the
individual and the work situation. The dimensions of employee and job are
clear where the ‘fit’ is based on management’s perception. It is a result of
the perception that management or organisation is on a prerogative side in
this process. To achieve the ‘fit’ situation, recruitment result must synchronise
between individual character and capability and the job’s practical requirements
(person-job fit). This perspective emphasises the relation between a worker
as an individual and his particular job, not in wider relation with his
organisation (Ostroff and Rothausen in Leopold, Harris and Watson
2005, p. 145).
In contrast, Herriot in Leopold, Harris and Watson
explored ‘the processual’ approach (2005, p. 144), which adopt ‘best
practices’ approach. The character of this approach lies in an ‘exchange
relationship’ and how negotiation mechanism develops work environment
(Leopold, Harris and Watson 2005, P. 145). The exchange relationship gives
candidates more opportunity to make a bargaining. Therefore, this character
is fit with ‘high’ commitment to HR strategies and soft model
of HRM.
The processual approach suggests the ‘exchange
relationship’ as a mechanism to set expectations about demands from both
candidates and the management. The decisionmaking process, therefore, does not
lie on one side as in the traditional approach. In this process, the
selection is a technique to gain more information to find compatibility (Leopold,
Harris & Watson, 2005, p. 145). In addition to the process, both
candidates and the manager can negotiate to propose their demands. It is
possible because both sides sometimes have an unsteady characteristic and
need a negotiation before sign any agreement.
The exchange relationship is also considered as a
learning process for both sides. For the candidates, they can learn about the
job and also about the organisation from recruitment process (Leopold, Harris
& Watson, 2005, p. 147). They can also gain as many information during
the process before making a decision. As a learning process, this approach
implements experimentation and evaluation. Some experiments might be a success, but some might fail. Hired candidates can
evaluate their situation by comparing between their expectation and their
present position (Leopold, Harris & Watson, 2005, p. 147). For the
organisation, it can get the best candidates because the management has learnt more about the candidates. They
can examine applicants’ orientation, attitude, behaviour, character,
motivation and determination. Also, the management also tests the candidates
to measure applicants’ suitability for the job before making a decision. This
process is crucial because high-performance HRM can enhance organisation’s
achievement (Buller & McEvoy, 2012, p. 45).
The consequences of the ‘processual’ approach are
successful and unsuccessful processes. If the process is successful, the
outcome will be a contract as the result of the negotiation (Leopold, Harris
& Watson, 2005, p. 145). But in some situations, the process is
unsuccessful. Firstly, it is because the organisation cancels hiring someone who
is not potentially fit with the organisation. Secondly, the applicants reject
the organisation’s offers because they do not feel suitable with the job
(Leopold, Harris & Watson, 2005, p. 145). Even though the organisation
losses costs and time, the unsuccessful process is still useful for the
organisation because they can prevent from a wrong decision that might waste
cost and time more (Sisson & Storey, 2000, p. 187).
Finally, the ‘processual’ approach which implements
‘learning process’ can help to recognise the drawbacks of the traditional
approach (Leopold, Harris & Watson, 2005, p. 147). To implement this
approach is not always easy and simple because every organisation has its
character and problems. This situation can make organisations use the
traditional approach because it is easier and less costly. However, the
traditional approach would be ineffective to provide new employees who have
competency and commitment. Therefore, the processual approach is probably
more acceptable for organisations to recruit capable and dedicated employees
(Leopold, Harris & Watson, 2005, p. 175).
Conclusion
HRM has important roles in every organisation. Their
performance can make a significant effect on the organisation. If they show
good performance, the organisation can achieve their goal successfully or
gain more profit. Otherwise, if the performance is bad, the organisation
would suffer and probably miss an opportunity to gain more income.
One of the crucial roles of HRM is recruiting new
employees. In this process, HRM is expected to hire new employees who have a
good skill and loyalty. It is also crucial for HRM to recruit the appropriate
person in the proper position at the right moment (Sisson & Storey, 2000,
p. 170). Also, it would be very profitable to recruit employees that fit not
only with their job but also with their environment.
In the recruitment process, HRM can adopt ‘the
traditional’ or ‘the processual’ approach. Each opinion has its consequences.
The first one has a connection with low commitment human resource strategy
that follows ‘hard’ model of HRM because it adopts ‘hire and fire’
principles. Many modern organisations still implement this approach because
of its simplicity and inexpensive reason. However, this approach has some
limitations that likely position one side as a single decision maker.
On the other hand, ‘the processual approach’ implements
or adopts high-commitment human resource strategy. This approach follows
‘best practices’ and can be categorised as a ‘soft’ model of HRM. This
approach recognises the limitations of ‘the traditional approaches’ and finds any solution that
could be implemented. Instead of poses the employer as the prerogative side,
the approach gives both the employer and the candidate, an opportunity to
‘exchange’ their position. This exchange can lead both sides to negotiate their expectation. The advantage of this
approach is the organisation can recruit the employees that principally
suitable for taking the job position. On the other hand, this approach seems
too complicated and costly which may keep many HRM using the first approach.
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Bloom, N., & Van Reenen, J. (2011). Human Resource
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Bowen, D. E., Galang, C., & Pillai, R. (2002). The
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Boxall, P., & Purcell, J. (2000). Strategic Human
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