19 Project Human Resource Management

R. Baskaran

 

PROJECT HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

 

Project Human Resource Management involves managing people and leading the team to meet the needs of organization. Project human resource management includes the processes required to make the most effective use of the people involved with a project.

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

 

• To learn about Human Resource Management

• To understand the theories in HRM

• To Maximize Productivity as Teams

 

IMPORTANCE OF HRM 

 

People determine the success and failure of organizations and projects. Despite the downturn in the economy, there is still a shortage of good IT workers. Project Human Resource Management involves managing people and leading the team to meet the needs of organization. Project human resource management includes the processes required to make the most effective use of the people involved with a project.  Processes include

 

·   Organizational planning

·   Staff acquisition

·   Team development

 

KEYS TO MANAGING PEOPLE 

 

Psychologists and management theorists have devoted much research and thought to the field of managing people at work. Important areas related to project management include

 

◦      Understanding Behavior

◦      Motivation

◦      Influence and power

◦      Effectiveness

 

Understanding Behavior 

 

People with practical experience of working on projects invariably identify the handling of people as one of the most important aspects of project management- Fredrick Taylor (Late 19th and Early 20th Century). The main objectives include:

 

·   To select the best person for the job: Selecting the right person for job involves a recruitment process where the candidates are shortlisted by the following process:

◦      Eligible vs. suitable.

◦      Create a job specification.

◦      Create a job holder profile (Qualities, Qualifications, education and experience).

◦      Obtain applicants.

◦      Examine CVs.

◦      Interviews (test on aptitude, personality, previous work).

◦      Other procedures (References, Medical examination etc.)

 

·  To instruct such people in the best methods.

·  To give incentives in the form of higher wages to the best workers.

 

Abraham Maslow developed a hierarchy of needs to illustrate his theory that people’s behaviors are guided by a sequence of needs. Maslow argued that humans possess unique qualities that enable them to make independent choices, thus giving them control of their destiny. This theory by Abraham Maslow is known as Theory of Self-actualization.

Herzberg’s Motivational and Hygiene Factors

  • Frederick Herzberg distinguishes motivational and hygiene factors as
    • Motivational Factors involves achievement, recognition, the work itself, responsibility, advancement, and growth – which produce job satisfac
    • Hygiene Factors cause dissatisfaction if not present, but do not motivate workers to do m Examples include larger salaries, more supervision, and a more attractive work environment

 

Expectancy Theory of Motivation

 

Vroom model comprises of the factors:

  • Expectancy – the belief that working harder will lead to a better performance.
  • Instrumentality – the belief that the better performance will be rewarded.
  • Perceived Value – the resulting reward.

 

McGregor’s Theory X and Y

 

Douglas McGregor popularized the human relations approach to management in the 1960s. Theory X states that average workers dislike and avoid work, so managers must use coercion, direction and control. People tend to avoid responsibility. Theory Y assumes individuals consider work as natural as play or rest and enjoy the satisfaction of esteem and self-actualization needs. Theory Z was introduced in 1981 by William Ouchi and is based on the Japanese approach to motivating workers, emphasizing trust, quality, collective decision making, and cultural values.

 

Oldham-Hackman Job Characteristic Model

 

Managers should try to group together the elements of the tasks that need to be carried out, so that they form meaningful and satisfying assignments such as skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy and feedback.

 

Web Links

  • htthttps:// pmpcertificationhelp.com/project-human-resource-management/
  • https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Project_Management/…/Human_Resources_Manageme…
  • https://www.edwel.com/Free-Resources/Project-Human-Resource-Management.aspx

 

Supporting & Reference Materials

  • Roger S. Pressman, “Software Engineering: A Practitioner’s Approach”, Fifth Edition, McGraw Hill, 2001.
  • Pankaj Jalote, “An Integrated Approach to Software Engineering”, Second Edition, Springer Verlag, 1997.
  • Ian Sommerville, “Software Engineering”, Sixth Edition, Addison Wesley, 2000.