Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
17
Managing human resources in
agribusiness
Objectives
•
Explain how human resource management and managing employee motivation in agri-
businesses are related
•
Discuss the functions of human resource management in agribusiness
•
Understand the difference between job specifi cations and a job description
•
Describe recruitment methods and the process of employee selection in agribusiness
•
Explain the major steps of job orientation in an agribusiness
•
Identify the important criteria that determine employee compensation and benefi ts
•
Discuss the performance evaluation process in an agribusiness
•
Describe the purpose and types of training programs in agribusiness
•
Outline valid criteria for promotion and employee advancement in agribusiness
•
Explain the purpose, format, and importance of an exit interview
•
Describe the role and impact that labor unions have on the agribusiness sector
Introduction
An agribusiness fi rm's people are among its most valuable and important assets. Unfortunate-
ly, they are sometimes the “forgotten” asset, as owners and managers often think of physical
assets such as trucks, land, cash, or equipment when they list their company's assets (and
perhaps because it is these types of assets which are listed on the agribusiness fi rm's balance
sheet—and its people are not).
The basics of human resource management are pretty straightforward—determine what jobs
and tasks the agribusiness needs performed, fi nd and hire good people, evaluate them periodi-
cally, and then compensate them appropriately. However, implementing this function in the
fi rm is the challenge, and each step is important to the success of the company.
Human resource
(HR)
management is much like production agriculture—part art and part science, requiring the
right balance of a variety of resources, and the right conditions, to yield a bumper crop.
The scope of human resource management
Human resource management
can be divided into two separate but closely related areas:
1.
Managing human resource functions
2.
Managing employee motivation
