Research Topic—HRM Practices in Universities-Perspective and Prospects
     

Set 1 –For VCs

 
1.

Human Resource Management (HRM) is a deliberate approach towards the management of people within an organization and has been defined as “strategic, integrated and coherent approach to the employment, development and well-being of the people working in organizations”

Please assign a value on a scale of 1-5 (1 not at all applicable and 5: fully applicable) that would indicate the extent to which the above approach is applicable to Indian universities.

     
2.

All reputed universities of the world have a full-functioning HR department. This department performs the generic functions involving recruitment, job evaluation, reward & compensation, training & development, etc.

To what extent do you think that all reputed Indian universities should have a full-functioning HR department? Please assign value on a scale of 1-5 signifying the extent  
     
3.

University administrators in India need to consider the global scenario and adopt HRM techniques in Indian universities.

To what extent do you agree with this statement?  Please assign value on a scale of 1-5 signifying the extent.
     
4.

To what extent do you believe that the quality of human resources is a differentiating factor between a good and an average university.

Please assign value on a scale of 1-5 signifying the extent.
     

Set 2-For Registrar/Pro.VCs

Please give your valued opinion on the following practices in terms of their relevance in your university and the extent to which these are applicable in Indian universities in general on a scale of 1 (not at all relevant )- 5  (fully relevant)

 
Sl no. Item In your university Indian universities in general
1.

Existence of a formal  process to estimate the demand for human resources and evaluate the size, nature and sources of supply which will be required to meet the demand
2. Creation of a brand image of the university for prospective employee  
3. Development and application of policies and procedures designed to reduce levels of absenteeism  
4. Which among the following sources of recruitment are relevant    
  4.1 Advertising
  4.2 Online recruitment
  4.3 Using recruitment consultants
5. Please assign values on the following aspects in terms of their relevance for selection in a university    
  5.1 Intelligence
  5.2 Ability
  5.3 Personality
  5.4 Aptitude
6. Preference to internal candidates than external candidates for filling-up vacancies.
7. Process of assessing and auditing the talents in the university in order to ensure that there are sufficient potential successors
8. Provision of opportunities for employees to develop their abilities and their careers in order to ensure that the university has the flow of talent it needs and to satisfy their own aspirations.
9. Catering to the growing need to provide younger employees with career development opportunities
10. Process of receiving and welcoming employees when they first join a university and giving them the basic information they need to adjust quickly and happily and start work.
11. Formal mechanism for assessment of employee training needs.
12. Existence of a formal process to assess individual employees’ development needs.
13. Providing training opportunities to employees of all categories.
14. Budgetary provision for supporting training and development of employees.
15. Examination and utilisation of results of training programmes  for future employee development.
16. Formal mechanism for reviewing performance of all employees
17. Assessment of performance and feedback given by a number of people who may include HODs, subordinates, colleagues and students
18. Existence of adequate infrastructure support for providing health care benefits to the employees.
19. Life and disability insurances for employees.
20. Payment of a variable amount to employees in terms of their contribution
21. Assignment for employees outside their routine and scheduled work
22. Provision for employee recognition and awards
23. Formal mechanism in the university to obtain suggestions from employees on issues concerning academic improvement
24.  
25. Providing opportunity where employees can continually expand their capacity to create the desired results and new patterns of thinking are nurtured
26. Assessment of potential can be carried out formally by university authorities following a performance review
27. Giving individuals and departments more responsibility for decision making and ensuring that they have the training, support and guidance to exercise that responsibility properly.
28. Process through which the university authorities allow employees to   discuss with them issues that affect them.
29. Activities aimed at ensuring that employees conduct is in line with the rules and standards of acceptable behaviour
30. Please assign values on the following forms of communication in terms of their prevalence    
  30.1 Written documentation
  30.2 Oral method
  30.3 Intranet/groupware
31. Please assign values on the following discipline problems in your university in terms of their occurrence    
  31.1 Attendance
  31.2 On-the-job behavior
  31.3 Dishonesty
  31.4 Outside activities
32. Please assign value in terms of the importance attached to the following discipline administrative mechanism    
  32.1 Corrective
  32.2 Preventive
  32.3 Progressive
  32.4 Immediate action
33. Please assign values on the following forms of employee voice on the basis of their relevance    
  33.1 Upward communication (means through which employees can make representations to university authorities  about their concerns through their representatives, through established channels or even through informal mechanism)
  33.2 Attitude surveys – Seeking the opinions of employees through questionnaires
  33.3 Suggestion schemes – Encouragement of employees to make suggestions, often accompanied by rewards for accepted ideas
  33.4 Project teams – getting groups of employees together with the departmental heads to develop new ideas involving teaching and research or to solve problems
34. Please assign values on the following dimensions of employee voice on a scale of 1-5 in terms of their prevalence    
  34.1 Individual: Providing voice to individual employees for addressing individual concerns and needs
  34.2 Collective: Providing voice through  association, union and other representation
35. Please assign values on the following challenges on a scale of 1-5 with respect to the challenges in attracting, retaining and engaging the ‘right’ human resources in Indian universities    
  35.1 Growing need to provide younger employees with career development opportunities.
  35.2 Loosening of employees’ emotional ties to institutions.
  35.3 Aligning employees efforts with institutional vision and mission
Ref: Changing time in UK universities