STAFFING

Meaning and Nature(characteristics/features) of STAFFING

 Meaning of STAFFING
Staffing may be defined as the process of hiring and developing the required personnel to fill in
various positions in the organisation.
It involves [1] estimating the number and type of personnel required, [2] recruiting and developing
them and [3] maintaining and improving their competence and performance.
Staffing is that part of management process which is concerned with recruitment, selection,
placement, utilisation and development of employees.

It involves the scientific and systematic procurement, allocation, utilisation, conservation and
development of human resources. It the art of acquiring, developing and maintaining a satisfactory
and satisfied work force.

“The managerial function of staffing involves manning the organisation structure through proper and
effective selection, appraisal and development of personnel to fill the roles designed into the
structure.” - Koontz and O’Donnell
Thus, staffing is concerned with ensuring that the organisation has the right number of people and the
right kind of people at the right places, at the right time and that they are doing the right things.
 NATURE(characteristics/ features) OF STAFFING
1. Part of Management
• Staffing is an integral part of the management process.
• It is inherent in all organisations because people comprise an essential part in every
organisation.
• Management involves getting results through people. Therefore, staffing is a major sub
system of an organisation.

2. Pervasive Function
• Staffing function is performed by all managers at all levels of the organisation.
• It is an essential part of the job of every manager.
• Every manager has to deal with his subordinates to get things done. Therefore, staffing
is required in all functional areas - production, marketing, finance, etc.
• It is a responsibility that a manager cannot delegate. A manager may secure advice and
help for experts in managing people but every manager has to perform the staffing
function.
 NATURE(characteristics/ features) OF STAFFING
3. Concerned with People
• Staffing is concerned with people and their relationships at work both as
individuals and as groups.
• It is concerned with the management of human beings. People being human
beings have their won needs, emotions and sentiments. So, it is a difficult task.
• Knowledge of human nature is necessary for efficient management of
personnel.

4. Wide Scope
The scope of staffing function is very wide.
It includes a broad spectrum of activities like recruitment, selection, placement,
training, transfer, promotion, appraisal and compensation of employees.
Staffing function is found in all types of organisations – business and non-
business.
 NATURE(characteristics/ features) OF STAFFING
5. Multiple Objectives
Staffing aims at both efficiency and justice.
Both efficiency and justice can only be successfully pursued together.

The objectives of staffing are:

a)Organisational objectives: To make optimum utilisation of human
resources.
b)Employee objectives: To ensure maximum development of every
individual and to provide personal satisfaction to each employee.
c)Social objectives: To establish and maintain industrial peace and to
achieve economic progress.
 NATURE(characteristics/ features) OF STAFFING
6. Extends beyond Personnel Department
Personnel department:
• Personnel department is mostly created to assist the managers in performing staffing function.
• Generally, the personnel department is assigned the operative functions of hiring, training, compensating, etc.
• It performs these functions in consultation with the departmental managers concerned.
Staffing:
Example: If sales officers are to be selected for the sales department, the personnel department will select them in
consultation with the sales manager who will have the final say in the selection.
Thus, staffing is inherent in the process of management.
• Role of staffing is much more than the responsibilities assigned to the personnel department.
• The staffing function is performed by all managers throughout the organisation rather than by the personnel
department only.
• Personnel department is only a service department that provides specialised services to different managers in
discharging their responsibility.
According to Dale Yoder: Staffing is a function of management; while personnel department is a department.
Departments can only help the managers.
“A very great difference distinguishes the staffing function of managers form the functions or activities of personnel
department. Responsibility for the functions is persistent. No manager can escape it. Departments can only help. The
personnel department only advises heads of departments. Every manager is responsible for the recruitment, selection,
training and appraisal of his subordinates.” – Dale Yoder
 NATURE(characteristics/ features) OF STAFFING
7. Continuous Function
• Staffing is an ongoing function.
• Managers have to fulfil the staff need of the organisation not only at the
time of its inception but at all times.
• Hiring, training, appraising and compensating staff is a never ending
process.