tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7584319303804919668.post386122477569659554..comments2023-08-15T19:00:12.980+05:30Comments on Simplicity @ the other side of Complexity: Towards a philosophy of HRPrasad Kurianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00392000963081576320noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7584319303804919668.post-12579890505597236362007-12-05T16:47:00.000+05:302007-12-05T16:47:00.000+05:30Yes, the metaphors/ images that are used describe/...Yes, the metaphors/ images that are used describe/ derive the philosophy can give us interesting insights regarding the underlying assumptions. Once I heard a gentleman (who was the Head of HR of a large firm) using the analogy of 'buying cattle' when he was formulating/ describing the strategy for campus hiring. While analogy has some merit from a process efficiency point of view, I am not sure if I want to be among the 'cattle bought by the firm'.Prasad Kurianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00392000963081576320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7584319303804919668.post-69604613619015029322007-12-05T16:37:00.000+05:302007-12-05T16:37:00.000+05:30Yes, the HR function in a high attrition environme...Yes, the HR function in a high attrition environment faces a tricky situation - it has to find the delicate balance between addressing the need to 'respond to the reality' (by designing HR systems/practices that would work in high attrition environments) and addressing the need to 'shape the reality in desired direction' (by designing HR systems/ practices that would encourage employees to stay on for a long time in the organization). Please see the post on 'Career planning and the myth of Sisyphus' for more details.Prasad Kurianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00392000963081576320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7584319303804919668.post-55207405433164063652007-12-04T20:07:00.000+05:302007-12-04T20:07:00.000+05:30Thank you very much for your comments. 1. Yes, any...Thank you very much for your comments. <BR/><BR/>1. Yes, any philosophy of HR has to revolve around the 'human' in 'Human Resources'. <BR/><BR/>2. Complexity exists !. Now, whether to attribute that complexity to the 'human' or to the 'situation' or to the 'interaction between the two' is more of a matter of convention/ the mental model that one chooses. I feel that multiple mental modes could 'work'- like multiple systems of medicine (that are based on very different models) 'work'. <BR/><BR/>3. Big words result when one tries to express in words something (like 'reality', 'meaning', 'essential nature' etc.) that can't be fully captured by words !Prasad Kurianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00392000963081576320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7584319303804919668.post-59634648843679397722007-11-28T16:53:00.000+05:302007-11-28T16:53:00.000+05:30philosophy of HR...a highly relevant issue to thin...philosophy of HR...a highly relevant issue to think upon...before i collect my thoughts on this and present a wholesome view (like urs), let me recall a concept, every HR professional knows but which underlies many(if not all) HR practices and that is : 'conceptualising the organisation as an organism'. This organism is affected by stimuli (external/internal) which produces certain outcome/behavior.<BR/>Once we begin with this approach, everything can be projected on the organization thinking from an organism'a point of view.<BR/>The philosophy of an organism/individual becomes the philosophy of the organisation and hence of HR.<BR/>The predictability chain is in fact the philosophy to be 'successful'. So, then u look for 'causes' and try to repeat them to have the desired 'effects'.<BR/>But, again thinking from an organism's point of view, there can be another philosophy which is broader and universal. But more on it later :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7584319303804919668.post-68626953233457314692007-11-28T00:47:00.000+05:302007-11-28T00:47:00.000+05:30I like your comment about how human resource depar...I like your comment about how human resource departments are based on old ideologies about long term employee loyalty and a predictability of future growth. I just left a company where this was certainly their approach, yet they ignored the fact that most employees didn't stay at the company for more than 3 years, if that. This would piss off the employees, because all benefits and approaches were long term, something they knew they would never receive.<BR/><BR/>Of course, from an HR perspective, you can't really blame the department for taking this angle, but you have to keep in mind realities while preparing for long range strategies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7584319303804919668.post-43393642433385340622007-11-28T00:12:00.000+05:302007-11-28T00:12:00.000+05:30A very interesting question!Well, my thought fragm...A very interesting question!<BR/>Well, my thought fragments; and these are ones that I have believed for a long time! Don’t know whether this is the philosophy of HR but for me, this should be the philosophy. Don’t know if there are many takers for the same! <BR/>I do believe in the assumption that it is possible to understand, predict and influence human behaviour. Especially if one has the ability to understand, it should help us to see the human being behind the resource, capital or the talent! And it is only this understanding that would help <B>create</B> the right tools which can contribute to influence. The more we forget the human being behind all these words, a lot of what we do would become fads. I remember your wisdom level consulting! Let me use your own definition <BR/><BR/><I>"While it uses tools/analysis as an essential input & to validate the output, the core of diagnosis/solution design is driven by a highly intuitive/non-linear/apparently discontinuous process perfected by years of individual experience/capability building/evolved consciousness! The output reflects simplicity at the other side of complexity!! This is what I call 'wisdom-level' consulting!!!"</I><BR/><BR/>All of those big words, to me meant, to develop that ability to understand the simple human being on the other side of the complex curtain of insecurities, fears, expectations and ambitions!<BR/>Too idealistic???bombay dostihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05627384133154514572noreply@blogger.com