Module 1:Personnel Research
Define Personnel Research
The systematic gathering and interpretation of [Link] purpose of
obtaining information and facts, is so that one can use the information or
facts to determine cause and effect relationship.
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT N5 NDOU N. R)
[Link]
5 Main Areas / Fields with the sub
Areas/Fields where research can be
done
1 STAFF SELECTION
Interview techniques
Personality testing
measuring leadership pontential
Determining the validity of tests
Selection methods and procedures
Selecting the right candidate.
2 TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
Performance appraisal
Determining training needs
Career development programmes
Team building
Management by objectives
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT N5 NDOU N. R)
Main Areas/fields with their sub areas/fields (continued)
3. REWARD MANAGEMENT
Paying what the employee is worth
Adjusting for inflation
Management of fringe benefit
Gathering of wage and salary information
Determining the cost effectiveness of human resource services and
benefits.
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT N5 NDOU N. R)
[Link]
MAIN AREAS/FIELDS continues
4. MAINTAINING GOOD EMPLOYEE RELATIONS
Improving communications
Monitoring collective bargaining
Introducing new methods and procedures
Providing counselling services
Assisting employees to adapt to change
Developing and maintaining human resource policies.
Developing participative approach to management
Determining causes of industrial accidents
Monitoring the impact of developments in technology
Setting standards for and monitoring the physical and mental health of employees
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT N5 NDOU N. R)
MAIN AREAS/FIELDS continues
5. SEPERATION
Dealing with disciplinary matters
Monitoring retirements benefits
Monitoring human resource turnover
Providing counselling for retirement, retrenchment etc.
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT N5 NDOU N. R)
RESEARCH METHODS TO USE IN PERSONNEL RESARCH
There are 10 Research methods to be used in a personnel research .
Two distinct types are :
1. Basic/Exploratory 2. Applied / Operational
This type is concerned with the Takes place when the
discovery of knowledge for its own
sake, and is often the basis of information that has already
[Link] resource managers been obtained is used to solve
seldom become involved with this type a particular and a specific
of research.
problem.
This kind of work is usually done at
institutions such as the Human So the HR manager can use the
Sciences Research Council which, for information provided by the
example does continuous surveys on HSRC to find average salary
the number of qualified people working
in professional fields in South Africa.
package of a person working in
a particular field.
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT N5 NDOU N. R)
Other 8 research methods are :
Historical studies
Case studies
Simulations
Role plays
Laboratory Experiments
Aggregate quantity reviews
Surveys
Fields studies
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT N5 NDOU N. R)
THE STEPS IN A RESARCH PROJECT
(8)
Step 1 :Define the problem
Step 2 :Describe the objective for the research
Step 3 :Decide which research method
Step 4 : Collect the information
Step 5 : Analyse and process the data
Step 6 :Interpret the data
Step 7 :Compile a report
Step 8 : Propose ways to solve the problem
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT N5 NDOU N. R)
SURVEYS
A survey is the most common form of field study and should always
be conducted in a such a way that all data obtained is accurate, valid
and reliable.
Accuaracy means that only facts should be used, and that they must
be absolutely correct
Validity means that the surveys must measure what it is supposed
to measure.
Realibility means that the survey should have the same results if it
were to be repeated.
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT N5 NDOU N. R)
STEPS INVOLVED IN CONDUCTING SURVEY
(11 STEPS)
Step 1 : Identify the specific objectives of the survey
Step 2 : Describe the specific procedures
Step 3 : Plan survey
Step 4 : Analyse the questions
Step 5 : Decide on the order
Step 6 : Standardise the survey
Step 7 : Provide a clear set of instructions
Step 8 : Revise and correct all mistakes
Step 9 : Choose a valid sample
Step 10 : Encourage everybody to participate
Step 11 : Communicate the results to eveyone
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT N5 NDOU N. R)
SWOT ANALYIS
In terms of personnel management, the enterprise has to have a very
clear idea of what its strength,weakness,opportunities and threats with
regards to their employees.
SWOT is acronym for:
S = Strength : What are my strenghts
W= Weakness : What are my weakness
0=Opportunities :What are my opportunities
T=Threats. :What are my threats
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT N5 NDOU N. R)
PRESENTING RESEARCH DATA
USING GRAPHS
Statics are not always easy to [Link], when research
data is presented using graphs, the results are much easier to
understand,make comparisons and draw conclusions:
The various types of graphs are the following:
Line graph
Vertical bar charts (Column charts)
Horizontal bar charts
Histograms
Frequency polygons
Pie Charts and Pictographs
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT N5 NDOU N. R)
STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
Statistical analysis
Is therefore finding ways of understanding the information that has been gathered so that it can be
applied in a useful way.
Analysis allow the relationships between variables to be [Link] are the characteristics
which make one person or thing different from the other. Eg, a person’s height is variable,because
people are different in height.
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT N5 NDOU N. R)
[Link]
Examples of statistical analysis
Percentages
Apercentage (%) is a decimal fraction expressed as a portion out of hundred
Averages and medians
Averages represent the approximate middle value in a set of data and is arrived at by dividing the sum of all the variables by the number of
variables in a group
Median ; if one sorts the values from the highest down to the lowest then the median is the value that lies in the middle of all the values
Trend and regression analysis
Trends are indicators of the general direction or movement that a graph is going.
Regression means that we use the known variables to predict the unknown variables.
Ratios and Indices
A ratio is a comparison between two numerical figures and is expressed as Value 1: Value 2
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT N5 NDOU N. R)
[Link]