It was a busy Sunday for me, as I have to face one more bank exam. As we got the answer-sheets, one typical girly voice whispered from last bench, "What is the post code?, They havn't specified any..."
"I think we are supposed to keep it blank, otherwise they would have specified the thing" I replied.
"Oh, may be... anyway, thanks!"
"You are welcome, 'n all the best.."
A casual conversation followed by long & irritating paper.
As per the schedule, there was a break inbetween two papers. She again asked me, "Hows the paper?"
"It was good, except the Data-Interpretation section, what do you think?", I replied while opening a biscuit pack. "Hi, I'm Vikram, may I know your name?"
"Hi, this is Vaidehi, MBA-HR from Indira College, currently working with thisthis consulting. Whats your specialization?"
"Nice, then I should handover my CV to you. My specialization is in Systems and interest is CRM."
"Oh great, but I hardly found that subject interesting."
"I have some different opinion about your stream HR", I was in assault mood. "Dont mind, but I think HR is worthless place in the organization, they hardly add any value to it. Why you chose that?"
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"Because I only know that. You are right, no one can calculate exact impact of HR practices in organization. But I think HR do possesses some value, as organizations like Infy invests hugely for that. There must be some reason behind it."
"I think an core-domain specialist manager, with some training can manage the human resource in better way, as he knows how to do get it done, and what can be the better way. This in turn can eliminate the need for HR and some huge sums they are claiming. Can you specify return on investment for HR investments?"
"Listen, there is a difference between running a mercenary gang and operating an organization. ROI is not everything for organization. Its not all about money and more earning. The effective and efficient utilization of manpower is the aim of HR, which inturn supports the core function of organization."
"Alright. when you say efficient, it comes to a ratio of outcome and cost paid for that. When a resource is exploited efficiently, it means you are asking the manpower to add more value, without spending for that. Dont you think that is exploitation. and one more case, when someone switches the organization, you HR people, offers him more money. If job is more about work-satisfaction then why is that additional offering? If there is difference between gang and organization, why it happens?"
"That additional money is for shifting the faith and accepting the change. Work satisfaction is the drive behind the job-shift. One more contradiction is that, when you ask your core-domain managers to do HR job, dont you exploit them?"
"I will be paying them for that and that ensures better workflow for them, which in-turn improves the quality level within the organization, is what I think. I don't want to place a point that HR branch is useless, I just want to say that, organization don't need it as a special department. Just the managers are need to work as people managers as well."
"You have a point, I appreciate. But I hope I have changed your viewpoint atleast upto some extent", She concluded the topic.
After asking a formal cup of coffee, I told her, "You are too good to be HR, See you, Good Luck"
"Yes, may be at interview", She laughed & walked away.
I dont have her email or contact, Now I can hardly recall her face, I might forget her name in few days. But only thing I will remember, She's the best HR, I ever encountered with
note- The photo is by Moriza, taken from his Flickr.
