Human Resource Development in Wal-Mart

Book excerpt: Research Paper (undergraduate) from the year 2016 in the subject Business economics - Industrial Management, grade: 88.2, Kenyatta University, language: English, abstract: This study puts into focus the key challenges of human resource development in Wal-Mart, the aspects of human resource development that the company does well, and the proper human resource development model that works better. All these considerations are aimed at providing various recommendations for the company. Presently, local and multinational organizations are considering the human resource as the most valuable of all assets that can provide a significantly sustainable competitive advantage in a rather volatile business environment. If a human resource in an organization is not effective in the provision strategic advantage, it becomes evident that the human resource management in the given organization is less ineffective in achieving its objectives. At the same time, human resource departments continue to consider the traditional roles of just looking at managing the workforce, recruiting, and training. Instead, current requirements indicate that such departments are also looking at providing a platform for meeting factors such as increased work-life balance of the employees with the aim of ensuring high levels of commitment, productivity, and satisfaction among employees. Human resource development involves several strategies and a set of intentional activities carried out by an organization with the aim of ensuring improved employee's skills, abilities, and the job know how. At the same time, employee development activities aim at directing these skills and abilities acquired by the employees for the benefit of the organization as pointed out by Gennard. The term also refers to the planned procedures and implemented strategies through which the human capital of the given business organization grows to people to the outcomes of developmental procedures. In every context, within this concept of human resource development, the existence of different dimensions of strategy, perspectives, contents, and process have been helping organizational strategists to avoid the unexpected consequences of poor practice and its impact on organizational performance. The founder and former CEO of Wal-Mart, Sam Walton is the greatest resource the organization has. Walton’s leadership model and the desire for success have been significant in taking the company towards the realization of its objectives. Despite his death in 1992, Walton’s contribution lives on within the company owing to his ideas of offering low prices and great service.