The Human Resource Function in Schools

1. The Human Resource Function in Schools Module 1: Introduction to Human Resources and Schools Ed Harris, Ph.D. College of Education Oklahoma State University

2. Human Resources and Schools • Human resources = people who individually and collectively contribute to the development and achievement of school’s objectives. • Leadership in HR involves employing people, helping them to develop professionally, utilizing, maintaining and compensating their services in tune with the job and organizational requirements. One does not “manage” people. The task is to lead people. And the goal is to make productive the specific strengths and knowledge of each individual. (Peter Drucker, 1999)

3. Why Study the HRF? • To develop a broader understanding of the forces, factors, conditions, and circumstances that shape its role as a contributor to organizational effectiveness and student success. • HR management attracts, develops, and maintains a talented workforce. • “For the times, they are a-changin.” (Bob Dylan, 1965) Shift from 20th Century Age of Industry to 21st Century Age of Knowledge and Globalization In the 21st century, the functions of human resource leadership are multifaceted and extend well beyond the traditional tasks of record keeping and collective bargaining. One of the key functions of leadership is to cultivate and nurture a healthy learning environment .

4. Some of the HR Functions for 21st Century School Leader • plan • recruit/select • orient/socialize • appraise (constructive evaluation) • develop/mentor • compensate • ensure just practices • manage information • communicate

5. Purpose of Human Resource Function • Human Resource Management • involves attracting, developing, and maintaining a quality workforce. • Basic Responsibilities of Human Resource Management • Attract a quality educational staff—human resource planning, • recruitment, and selection. • 2. Develop a quality educational staff—employee orientation, training, performance appraisal. • 3. Maintain a quality educational staff—retention and career development.

6. Barriers to Effective HR Leadership • Institutional rigidity and apathy; • Failure to understand and achieve individual and organization purposes; • Reluctance to apply technical rationality to human and organizational problems; • And internal and external forces (government, political, school system culture, unionism, community) that require the most creative schools system inventions for resolution.

7. Dimensional elements The dimensional elements define and influence the design and operation of the human resource function (Castetter and Young, 2000).

8. Mission: The Foundation for Everything The mission of a school system identifies the purposes for which it has been created, its boundaries and activities, as well as its governmental and collateral purpose.

9. Human Dimension: It’s About People The people of an organization …. • bring life to and carry out the organizational mission; • determine what, when, where, how, and by whom school work is done.

10. Organizational Dimension: Influences Design and Operation of HRF Every organization must have: • purpose • leadership • structure

11. Environmental Dimension: Schools and Society Have a Symbiotic Relationship Every school has an: • external environment and • Internal environment

12. Environmental Dimension: Integrating External and Internal Factors

13. Ethical Dimension: Doing the Right Things, for the Right Reason, the Right Way

14. Cultural Dimension: The Social Context of Schools

15. Summarizing some things……. • The HRF is vital in any school. • It is the “people function” of the school. • People not only make up the school, they are the school. One of the key functions of leadership is to cultivate and nurture a healthy learning environment