6.1.1
Setting Human Resource Objectives
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Setting Human Resources Objectives
In the human resources (HR) department, there are many different types of objectives which may be appropriate.

Employee engagement
- HR objectives can be focused on employee engagement and involvement. Employee engagement involves listening to staff, involving staff in decision making processes and building relationships between staff and managers. For example, Google allows its employees to spend 20% of their working time on a project of their choice.

Talent development
- HR objectives can be focused on talent development. Talent development involves a business developing their current employees so that they can support the business’s future success.

Training
- HR objectives can be focused on training.

Diversity
- HR objectives can be focused on diversity.

Aligning values
- HR objectives can be focused on aligning values. Aligning values involves ensuring employees have similar values and beliefs to a business’. For example, a business may seek to change an employee’s values, through training, or may only recruit individuals who have demonstrated at interview that their values are similar to those of the business.

Location and skills
- HR objectives can be focused on the number, skills, and location of employees. Human resources (HR) are responsible for recruiting so can determine the number of employees available and the skill set of each of these individuals. HR may also employ staff to work at different locations within the business, for example across several factories or stores.
Influences on Human Resources Objectives
Influences affecting a business’s choice of human resources objectives can be internal or external.

Internal influences
- Objectives of the business will influence the choice of human resources objectives as objectives at a functional or departmental level must support the overall business.
- Availability of internal funding can influence the choice of human resources objectives as this may determine how many vacancies are advertised.

Internal influences continued
- Objectives of the other business functions will influence the choice of human resources objectives. For example, if the operational objectives are focussed on flexibility and require the recruitment of additional temporary staff for the festive period, the human resources department will need to support this through focussing on recruitment.

External influences
- Legal considerations influence the choice of human resources objectives as HR departments will have to comply with laws around recruitment and employment.
- Technological advancements influence the choice of human resources objectives. For example, developments in technology may require HR to organise training on new technologies used in the business.

External influences continued
- Ethical considerations influence the choice of human resources objectives as HR departments may need to consider whether to pay the National Minimum Wage, or whether to use zero-hours contracts.
1What is Business?
1.1Nature & Purpose of Business
1.2Different Business Forms
1.3Businesses Operate Within an External Environment
2Managers, Leadership & Decision Making
2.1Management, Leadership & Decision Making
2.2Management Decision Making
2.3Role & Importance of Stakeholders
3Marketing Management
3.1Setting Marketing Objectives
3.2Understanding Markets & Customers
3.3Segmentation, Targeting, Positioning
3.4Using the Marketing Mix
3.4.1Marketing Mix3.4.2Pricing Decisions & Price Skimming3.4.3Pricing Decisions & Price Penetration3.4.4Promotional Decisions3.4.5Promotional Decisions 23.4.6Promotional Decisions 33.4.7Distribution Decisions3.4.8Distribution Decisions 23.4.9Social Media & Influencers3.4.10Digital Marketing3.4.11Evaluating Digital Marketing3.4.12A-A* (AO3/4) - The Marketing Mix & Promotion3.4.13A-A* (AO3/4) - Pricing & Competition
4Operational Management
4.1Setting Operational Objectives
4.2Analysing Operational Performance
4.3Increasing Efficiency & Productivity
4.4Improving Quality
4.5Managing Inventory & Supply Chains
4.6Business & The External Environment
5Financial Management
5.1Setting Financial Objectives
5.2Analysing Financial Performance
5.3Sources of Finance
5.4Improving Cash Flow & Profits
6Human Resource Management
6.1Setting Human Resource Objectives
6.2Analysing Human Resource Performance
6.3Improving Org Design & Human Resource Flow
6.4Improving Motivation & Engagement
6.5Improving Employer-Employee Relations
7Strategic Position of a Business (A Level Only)
7.1Mission, Objectives, Strategy
7.2Financial Ratio Analysis
7.3Assessing Overall Performance
7.4Assessing Political & Legal Change
7.5Assessing Economic Change
7.6Assessing Social & Technological Change
7.7The Competitive Environment
7.8Investment Appraisal
8Choosing Strategic Direction (A Level Only)
8.1Markets to Compete & Products to Offer
8.2How to Compete
9Pursuing Strategies (A Level Only)
9.1Assessing a Change in Scale
9.2Assessing Innovation
9.3Globalisation & Internationalisation
9.4Greater Use of Digital Technology
10Managing Strategic Change
10.1Managing Change
10.2Managing Organisational Culture
10.3Managing Strategic Implementation
10.4Problems with Strategy & Why They Fail
Jump to other topics
1What is Business?
1.1Nature & Purpose of Business
1.2Different Business Forms
1.3Businesses Operate Within an External Environment
2Managers, Leadership & Decision Making
2.1Management, Leadership & Decision Making
2.2Management Decision Making
2.3Role & Importance of Stakeholders
3Marketing Management
3.1Setting Marketing Objectives
3.2Understanding Markets & Customers
3.3Segmentation, Targeting, Positioning
3.4Using the Marketing Mix
3.4.1Marketing Mix3.4.2Pricing Decisions & Price Skimming3.4.3Pricing Decisions & Price Penetration3.4.4Promotional Decisions3.4.5Promotional Decisions 23.4.6Promotional Decisions 33.4.7Distribution Decisions3.4.8Distribution Decisions 23.4.9Social Media & Influencers3.4.10Digital Marketing3.4.11Evaluating Digital Marketing3.4.12A-A* (AO3/4) - The Marketing Mix & Promotion3.4.13A-A* (AO3/4) - Pricing & Competition
4Operational Management
4.1Setting Operational Objectives
4.2Analysing Operational Performance
4.3Increasing Efficiency & Productivity
4.4Improving Quality
4.5Managing Inventory & Supply Chains
4.6Business & The External Environment
5Financial Management
5.1Setting Financial Objectives
5.2Analysing Financial Performance
5.3Sources of Finance
5.4Improving Cash Flow & Profits
6Human Resource Management
6.1Setting Human Resource Objectives
6.2Analysing Human Resource Performance
6.3Improving Org Design & Human Resource Flow
6.4Improving Motivation & Engagement
6.5Improving Employer-Employee Relations
7Strategic Position of a Business (A Level Only)
7.1Mission, Objectives, Strategy
7.2Financial Ratio Analysis
7.3Assessing Overall Performance
7.4Assessing Political & Legal Change
7.5Assessing Economic Change
7.6Assessing Social & Technological Change
7.7The Competitive Environment
7.8Investment Appraisal
8Choosing Strategic Direction (A Level Only)
8.1Markets to Compete & Products to Offer
8.2How to Compete
9Pursuing Strategies (A Level Only)
9.1Assessing a Change in Scale
9.2Assessing Innovation
9.3Globalisation & Internationalisation
9.4Greater Use of Digital Technology
10Managing Strategic Change
10.1Managing Change
10.2Managing Organisational Culture
10.3Managing Strategic Implementation
10.4Problems with Strategy & Why They Fail
Practice questions on Setting Human Resource Objectives
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- 1HR objectives:Fill in the list
- 2Internal influences on HR objectives:Fill in the list
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