From human resources to human beings: managing people at work

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the drawbacks of viewing an organization's employees as simply “resources”, rather than as individual human beings with their own rights, needs and aspirations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents the author's personal viewpoint.

Findings

The paper urges organizations to acknowledge and celebrate each employee's individuality. It argues that the economic upheaval offers an opportunity to rethink the current stress is on specified, targeted outcomes.

Practical implications

The paper advances the view that such reforms will promote the competitive advantage of organizations.

Originality/value

The paper indicates why organizations should give real meaning to the slogan “our people are our most important asset”.

Citation

Altman, Y. (2009), "From human resources to human beings: managing people at work", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 17 No. 7, pp. 3-4. https://doi.org/10.1108/09670730910996464