How to Measure Human Resource Management (3rd Edition) [Hardcover]

Jac Fitz-enz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 26, 2001

Once thought of simply as the place where employee records are kept, today's human resources department has evolved into a manager of human capital. However, HR faces challenges - among them providing necessary services at competitive cost, enhancing productivity, and justifying budgets at a time when outsourcing firms threaten its very existence. Now more than ever, HR needs to position itself as a value-added partner that contributes to the strategic goals of its organization. This Third Edition of a human resources classic is the only book to provide a proven, quantifiable method for accurately measuring the productivity of all major HR functions. "How to Measure Human Resources Management" is nothing short of a must-have for HR managers - a tool that allows you to gauge the effectiveness of your department and communicate with senior management in the quantitative business language they understand.Thoroughly revised, this practical guide offers new chapters that show how to measure: intellectual capital; the effectiveness of the HR Web site - the employee handbook, retirement and benefits information, etc.; and, HR call centers and service centers. Now you can accurately measure virtually anything that needs measuring, from a specific task to the way your entire department is organized. You'll see how to support your managerial decisions - from how much HR staff is needed to how much to spend on HR services - with hard numbers obtained from easy-to-apply formulas and benchmark database examples. Authors Jac Fitz-enz and Barbara Davison expertly demonstrate how you can: evaluate all your human resources activities and costs, including: staffing, training, HRIS services, employee turnover, employee absence control, and the pay and benefits system; and, collect data on costs, time, and the quantity and quality of work.The book includes another new chapter on employee communications - which is at the heart of leading the new employee - as well as expanded coverage of the role of technology, now the driving force in HR management. The authors also offer guidance in linking HR activities to business objectives and, ultimately, to the organization's goals. In addition, they examine the future direction of HR and its likely prospects, problems, and payoffs in the new millennium. Direct, easy-to-follow, and remarkably insightful, "How to Measure Human Resources Management" is a resource no HR manager can afford to be without. Protect your HR department and prove its value with a measurement system that works.Is it cost-effective to add staff in a given area? Does a training program have a positive impact on costs and sales? How can you increase employee satisfaction and also benefit the organization? At a time when human resources managers are under great pressure to accurately measure job performance, defend their budgets against outsourcing, and even justify their own existence, answering questions like these is a necessary yet often difficult challenge. "How to Measure Human Resources Management" is designed to help HR managers confidently measure all major personnel functions and make tough decisions. From hiring and staffing, to compensation and benefits, to training and development, to employee relations and retention programs and more, you'll see how to better measure and manage overall HR productivity and service - confirming your role in giving your company a competitive edge.This completely updated Third Edition of a classic HR text provides a wealth of new information, including: measuring intellectual capital and Web-based HR systems; connecting compensation to revenues and expenses; keeping management satisfied with the hiring process; assessing the value of outsourcing and call centers; measuring the effect of leadership and management development; and, understanding the costs of and reasons for absenteeism and turnover. Use "How to Measure Human Resources Management" to show top management in quantitative terms how the HR function contributes to your company's bottom line.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Once thought of simply as the place where employee records are kept, today's human resources department has evolved into a manager of human capital. However, HR faces challenges­­among them providing necessary services at competitive cost, enhancing productivity, and justifying budgets at a time when outsourcing firms threaten its very existence. Now more than ever, HR needs to position itself as a value-added partner that contributes to the strategic goals of its organization.

This Third Edition of a human resources classic is the only book to provide a proven, quantifiable method for accurately measuring the productivity of all major HR functions. How to Measure Human Resources Management is nothing short of a must-have for HR managers­­a tool that allows you to gauge the effectiveness of your department and communicate with senior management in the quantitative business language they understand.

Thoroughly revised, this practical guide offers new chapters that show how to measure:

• Intellectual capital
• The effectiveness of the HR Web site: the employee handbook, retirement and benefits information, etc.
• HR call centers and service centers

Now you can accurately measure virtually anything that needs measuring, from a specific task to the way your entire department is organized. You'll see how to support your managerial decisions­­from how much HR staff is needed to how much to spend on HR services­­with hard numbers obtained from easy-to-apply formulas and benchmark database examples. Authors Jac Fitz-enz and Barbara Davison expertly demonstrate how you can:

• Evaluate all your human resources activities and costs, including: staffing, training, HRIS services, employee turnover, employee absence control, and the pay and benefits system
• Collect data on costs, time, and the quantity and quality of work

The book includes another new chapter on employee communications­­which is at the heart of leading the new employee­­as well as expanded coverage of the role of technology, now the driving force in HR management. The authors also offer guidance in linking HR activities to business objectives and, ultimately, to the organization's goals. In addition, they examine the future direction of HR and its likely prospects, problems, and payoffs in the new millennium.

Direct, easy-to-follow, and remarkably insightful, How to Measure Human Resources Management is a resource no HR manager can afford to be without.

Protect your HR department and prove its value with a measurement system that works

Is it cost-effective to add staff in a given area? Does a training program have a positive impact on costs and sales? How can you increase employee satisfaction and also benefit the organization? At a time when human resources managers are under great pressure to accurately measure job performance, defend their budgets against outsourcing, and even justify their own existence, answering questions like these is a necessary yet often difficult challenge.

How to Measure Human Resources Management is designed to help HR managers confidently measure all major personnel functions and make tough decisions. From hiring and staffing, to compensation and benefits, to training and development, to employee relations and retention programs and more, you'll see how to better measure and manage overall HR productivity and service­­confirming your role in giving your company a competitive edge. This completely updated Third Edition of a classic HR text provides a wealth of new information, including:

• Measuring intellectual capital and Web-based HR systems
• Connecting compensation to revenues and expenses
• Keeping management satisfied with the hiring process
• Assessing the value of outsourcing and call centers
• Measuring the effect of leadership and management development
• Understanding the costs of and reasons for absenteeism and turnover

Use How to Measure Human Resources Management to show top management in quantitative terms how the HR function contributes to your company's bottom line.

About the Author

Jac Fitz-enz is an internationally recognized authority on human resource management and is the pioneer of the field of human capital benchmarking and performance measurement. In 1977, Dr. Fitz-enz founded Saratoga Institute, which today publishes one of the world's largest databases of human capital metrics, the Human Capital Benchmarking Report. He has authored five books on human capital management. Dr. Fitz-enz previously held senior human resource posts at major technology and financial services companies in the United States.

Barbara Davison is Principal Consultant with Saratoga Institute. She worked with Dr. Fitz-enz on the original research and development of HR metrics. Ms. Davison has held several director-level HR positions at Motorola and ARA.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 351 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 3 edition (December 26, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071369988
• ISBN-13: 978-0071369985
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #52,219 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Most Practical Measurement Resource Available!, July 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: How To Measure Human Resource Management (Hardcover)

This book is a must-have for anyone concerned about cost-effective, value-added human resources results. It is the clearest, most concise work of its type. Anyone, regardless of their level of experience in human resources, can quickly use the contents of this book to become immediately more effective in their workplace.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Updated classic, January 23, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How to Measure Human Resource Management (3rd Edition) (Hardcover)

This 3rd edition updates a classic HR book (originally written in 1984). New chapters on technology, outsourcing, etc. as well as revision of the basic chapters has kept this book on the forefront of HR "must haves".

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The pioneer in HR Metrics, April 16, 2009

By 

Layla Halabi (Dubai - UAE) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Measure Human Resource Management (3rd Edition) (Hardcover)

Jac Fitz-enz is the man who started the "HR Metrics" revolution in the early 1980s and in this book he introduces the topic is a simple, easy manner that will appeal to the beginner and advanced readers. This is a book written primarily for the HR professional and therefore, some basic understanding of the various HR functions is assumed. If you're considering a primer on HR metrics or looking to buy just one book that will provide the basics as well as serve as reference, then this is the book. You may also want to consider the more advanced "The ROI of Human Capital: Measuring the Economic Value of Employee Performance" if you want a more in-depth understanding of the topic.

Fitz-enz divides the book to seven parts with the first part of the book (Part 1) focusing on "Why measure HR." These are arranged in 4 chapters that present a compelling picture for using and implementing HR metrics as well as several pointers on implementing viable and effective HR systems.

In each of the subsequent six parts, one of the main functions of human resources is discussed with specific chapters on all relevant HR activities and numerous metrics and detailed examples to demonstrate how to use and apply the metrics. The areas covered include:

Part 2: Hiring and staffing including workforce planning, recruiting and the hiring process.
Part 3: Compensation and benefits divided into a chapter on compensation and another on benefits.
Part 4: Training & development including e-learning; knowledge management; leadership and management development; career management; and organization development.
Part 5: Employee relations and retention with chapters on orientation; absenteeism and turnover; and labor relations.
Part 6: e-HR. The chapter on workforce analytics is excellent and probably the best introduction to the topic I've come across. There's also a second chapter on communicating and reporting outcomes.
Part 7: Alternative methods such as outsourced call centers and employee self-service.