Summary
The report has been formulated after investigating the importance of joining a professional human resource association. The report has highlighted the importance of being in a local or an international human resource professional association.
There are various advantages associated with joining such associations which include increasing the trading partners and networking. The report will focus on the benefits of joining such a professional association.
It will put into detail the requirements for joining such a human resource professional association and the benefits that come with joining them. These include career development, networking as well as material benefits like grants and scholarships.
In the introduction, the report will highlight the aspects that will be of main concern to the report while explaining the aims and objectives of this particular report.
In this case the point of concern will particularly be the importance of joining a human resources professional association and the implications to the person joining.
It will also focus on the methodology used while obtaining this particular information as well as the limitations. The report has highlighted the results, discussions of the findings and finally the conclusion (Lundy 2006, p. 33).
Introduction
There are numerous advantages that are associated with joining a human resources professional association. They include ensuring that one remains updated on the developments that occur in this particular field.
This is made possible with the help of the newsletters, journals and website updates that are done by these associations. They also organize conferences that inform members about the current developments in the various fields.
There are many networking opportunities that are made available by joining such associations hence helping an individual to get new opportunities (Noe 2010, p. 65). These points have been elaborated in detain in the findings/results as well as the discussion.
The methodology used in the gathering of the information for this report was mainly the secondary sources which include books, journals, newsletters and internet sources. The report also highlights the limitations that were encountered in the process of getting the relevant information.
The report is aimed at finding the advantages that are associated with joining a human resources professional association whether at local or at the international level. The findings/results have then been discussed and a conclusion drawn.
Methodology
Secondary sources have been used in this research. Some of the materials used include; books, journals, newsletters and online sources. The secondary sources have been used as the method is economical and there are no much expenses to be incurred. It is less cumbersome when compared to the use of primary data.
It is also less time consuming when compared to the use of primary sources of data like direct interviews. It was also preferred due to the ease in comparison between the different sources.
It was for instance easier to compare the advantages of joining the human resource professional association from internet sources as well as those found in newsletters and journal articles.
The method enhanced the understanding of the issue at hand as in-depth explanations are given.
Limitations
A number of limitations were encountered in this particular research. For instance, some of the sources accessed were outdated and hence could not factor in advantages that are associated with the current technological world, hence rendering some sources irrelevant.
Some of the information particularly the online sources could not be relied upon as their origin was questionable. The author and the methodology used in gathering and analyzing the information could not be determined.
In addition, some of the sources could not meet the research needs as they were not specific. Some of them for instance focused on the benefits of joining any professional association rather than focusing on the human resources professional associations. In some cases, the information found was insufficient.
In addition, some of the online sources could not be accessed as they required subscription fees in order to be accessed.
Results
Various human resource associations were studies in this particular case and the benefits as well as shortfalls determined. They include the following;
Society for Human Resource Management
This is the largest human resources association composed of 250,000 members spread in 140 countries across the world. The association has been quite instrumental in equipping its members with the appropriate human resources skills and benefiting the human resource profession.
It has various chapters in the United States of America as well as China and India. Such an association is therefore vital in ensuring that its members are updated on the current developments in their respective professions both at local and international level.
The members are able to get career or business deals in other countries as opposed to the mother country. For such an association however, it might be difficult to decide on a standard payment for its members given that they are under different conditions in the various countries.
Chattered Institute of Personnel management
This is a human resource professional association that received the chattered status in 2000. The association has 135,000 members and it is highly respected and recognized in the United Kingdom.
Its main purpose is to enhance human resources development and equip its members and their colleagues to adhere to the required standards of human resource practices. It also helps to serve the professional interests of those in the association.
It ensures that ideal human resources development and management standards are upheld. The association however has its own limitations. For instance, it was recently chattered, which implies that it might not be equipped with all the human resources development skills needed for the training of its members.
It is based in the United Kingdom. This might simply imply that it concentrates on the human resources practices that are mainly relevant to those countries in the United Kingdom and hence ignoring other regions like Africa and Asia.
The Australian Human Resource Institute
This association represents human resources management professionals. It has a membership of about 12,000 people and has been operational for over 60 years. The organization has been pivotal in ensuring that its members are trained and equipped on the most effective human resource development skills.
The large membership therefore enhances networking which in the long run increases the chances of its members to get information on the current job openings available, as well as acquire new business deals.
The training that is done is quite crucial in ensuring that the members are updated on the most current human resources development strategies. It has been operational for 60 years and hence has enough experience in ensuring that its members get up to date information concerning be best human resources strategies.
The association actively participates in setting standards for human resources management, offers training and ensures that its members are recognized professionally. The association also ensures that its members remain updated on the current trends in the Australian business and workforce.
Through such, effective training is done and this ensures that its members remain relevant to the ever changing job markets. The association offers training on two human resource courses hence providing the qualified human resources professionals at some affordable fees which is cost effective to its members.
Arabian Society for Human Resource Management
The association was started with the aim of enhancing human resources management and development in the region. It helps in meeting the needs of human resources professionals within the region. This is made possible by sharing the relevant information and resources with its members within the region.
This ensures that their respective organizations adhere to the required standard of performance. The membership of this association is open to students taking human resource courses as well as human resource development professionals and any person with similar objectives to those of the association.
The association however has its own shortfalls, for instance, due to the fact that it is regional, it only serves the human resources interests of members within the Arab world hence not factoring in people from other regions or continent.
Dubai Human Resources Forum
This association was started by Human Resources Managers with the core purpose of ensuring continuous human resource development, networking as well as sharing their experiences. It targets those people with the intention of furthering their human resources development.
It has a membership of 300 members who represent their respective companies across the Emirates region. It helps its members in attaining professional standard in the human resources management. It was registered as a professional body in 2002.
The small number of its members however hinders it from achieving its goals as this offers limited networking and a smaller base for sharing experiences. It mainly targets the human resource managers and hence restricting its membership.
The other people some of whom might be students are not allowed to join this association. It is however recognized in the United Kingdom hence offering its services beyond the region.
Discussion
According to the findings, there are a number of benefits that come with being a member of a human resources professional association. Members of such associations are advantaged since employers look for those individuals who have more than just their academic qualifications.
They therefore stand a better chance of getting the available jobs unlike their counterparts who have not joined the associations. They also get firsthand information on any job opportunities in the various fields. This is made possible through the interaction that the members of these associations have.
In some cases, the advertisers of the job openings are members of the associations as well. They are more likely to give priority to the members rather than the nonmembers. In some cases, the available opportunities are for members only, and this puts them at an advantage.
The findings also show that such associations are quite vital in shaping a person’s career. Members are likely to identify their areas of interest and specialize. This can be attributed to the fact that the association enable an individual to increase his/her knowledge base and stays updated on the current trends in the various fields.
The findings also show that the members are well networked due to the fact that they mingle with members from various fields and specialties.
The findings also pointed out that managers, marketers and other influential members of multinational companies that had joined these associations played very significant roles in ensuring that their companies expanded not just locally but internationally as well.
Such companies quite easily complied with the international requirements due to the exposure that these members get. Those companies or business that had their key employees in such associations were found to esteem transparency as well as high levels of accountability.
According to the findings, it was also quite evident that both local and international human resource professional associations played a significant role in ensuring the harmonization of salaries and wages to the employees in deferent countries and regions hence minimizing the disparities in the salaries and wages paid to members of the same job group.
These associations have also been vital in enhancing business outsourcing. Such associations help the staff of any company or organization to know where to outsource their vital services from.
Joining such associations also help the members to be informed on the new business and trading deals hence availing new opportunities for expansion.
Such members can effectively manage their organizations due to the training and skills that they acquire while attending the various sessions. They are, therefore, well placed to resolve any problems encountered in these (Boxall 2007, p. 77).
From the above findings it is quite evident that both local and international human resources professional association are very significant in making sure that there members are updated on the current trends in the market.
The associations are quite vital in ensuring that the members share their experiences and hence find the best ways to overcome the various challenges at the local and at the international level.
They invest in employee development by training their members on the best human resources practices and this helps in ensuring that the members are well versed with the existing standards for human resources practice.
Members who join some of these associations also benefit from grants and scholarships which are quite vital in equipping the members with the appropriate human resources knowledge. The associations are quite important for networking.
Members from various companies, organizations and different countries come together. This makes it easier for job seekers to be linked up with their potential employers. For those interested in new business deals these associations help them to find new business contacts which are vital for the expansion of their businesses.
The associations play a big role in updating their members concerning the new human resources development standards and hence help in ensuring their compliance.
The members are informed on the existing market needs. This is made possible through the various conferences that are held, the newsletters and journals that are produced by these associations.
Members, therefore, get the relevant information concerning the cheaper as well as demanding labor markets. Managers in such associations can use these information to determine the best places to open new branches or where to source there labor from.
The associations help the different firms adhere to the different performance benchmarks. This is made possible by these firms sourcing qualified personnel and keeping to the required standards of human resources management (Noe 2010, p. 55).
Conclusion
Among the various human resources professional associations given above, the preferred association is the Society for Human Resource Management. This is because the association has a larger membership. This is quite vital for effective networking for job seekers as well as those looking for business deals.
The large membership also implies that the members gain a lot when it comes to the aspect of sharing their different experiences. The association was started in 1948, which implies that it has a better experience when it comes to aspects of human resources across the years.
It is also represented in 140 countries which ensure that members across the countries share the relevant information and experiences concerning the labor markets, business deals and laws in the various countries.
Joining the various human resources professional associations is quite important in many aspects. For instance, the associations help in ensuring that the members from the various organizations adhere to the standard labor laws both at the local as well as at the international level.
These associations also train their members in relation to their human resources development and hence helping them ensure that they advance their careers. They are very important in enhancing relationships and networks. This might be at the local as well as international levels.
Members of such organizations easily access new markets hence expanding their businesses not just at the local level but at the international level as well, especially those in international associations.
The human resources professional associations are very significant in training their members to be efficient in their service delivery. The associations also help in ensuring the multinational firms not only comply with the local laws but also adhere to the international standards.
This is made possible by training the members on the local as well international laws that govern such firms. The HR staffs are taught on the significance of focusing on the development of human resources rather than just the financial control in order to experience significant prosperity.
These associations are quite critical in ensuring that the members are well informed on the current political situation in various regions and countries. This is quite vital for those members that are seeking new opportunities.
A stable political environment is quite vital for the establishment of firms and hence ensuring the booming of various businesses. This in the end translates to huge profits for these firms. An unstable political climate on the other hand might not be the best for the establishment of firms.
The members of these associations share there experiences and are therefore better placed to face any challenges that come with their various positions.
Members who have joined such association can easily access business mergers as opposed to their colleagues who haven’t joined yet. Members of these associations also gain from grants as well as scholarships in human resources development.
Some of these associations even allow students to register as members and in some cases those members that are still students are offered scholarships. In some cases there are job opportunities that are advertised and only those who are members of there associations are considered.
These associations however have their own shortfalls. For instance some have a small membership and therefore members do not get much experience as well as effective networking. Others are just based within particular regions and not others hence serving just a few members within those regions.
In some cases however, the membership to such associations is restricted and students might not be allowed. The requirement for joining for instance might be that the person joining must be a human resources manager.
This acts as a barrier to those members that are interested in joining associations but do not hold such positions.
List of References
Boxall, P. 2007, Strategy and Human Resource Management, London, Macmillan.
Lundy, O. 2006, strategic human resources management , London, Routledge.
Noe, R. 2010, ‘Employee Training and Development.’ Careers and Career Management , vol. 5, no. 11, pp. 55-65.