Human Resources Careers Background In the 18th century, the U.S. economy was primarily agricultural, dependent on crops such as wheat and cotton. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, however, the United States experienced an industrial revolution. With this revolution, the economy shifted largely toward production of raw materials, such as iron and steel, and
Personnel specialists, also known as human resources professionals, formulate policy and organize and conduct programs relating to all phases of personnel activity. Labor relations specialists serve as mediators between employees and the employer. They represent management during the collective-bargaining process when contracts with employees are negotiated. They also represent the company at grievance hearings, required
Human resources strategy focuses on two primary issues: The degree to which human resources (HR) practices are aligned with business strategies The extent to which these practices influence organizational performance It is also based on three key assumptions: Human resources can be a source of competitive advantage. Human resource practices have a direct influence on