#Social and Political Context

[operationalinsights]

The Post-War Evolution of HRM: From Welfare to Strategic Human Resource Management (1945-1965)

The years following World War II ushered in a new chapter in the development of Human Resource Management (HRM). In the aftermath of the war, HRM expanded and became more formalized as companies adapted to new economic realities and changes in workforce dynamics. Unlike the pre-war period, when HRM was primarily focused on welfare capitalism and managing employee relations, the post-war era saw the evolution of HRM into a more strategic function, with a growing emphasis on organizational efficiency, labor productivity, and the alignment of human resources with broader corporate goals.

This essay explores the post-war transformation of HRM, examining the factors that contributed to its evolution and the shift from welfare-oriented personnel management to strategic human resource management (SHRM). It will also highlight key developments in the field during this period, including the professionalization of HRM, the influence of behavioral sciences, and the changing relationship between HR departments and unions.

The Shift from Welfare to Productivity-Oriented HRM

Following the end of World War II in 1945, many companies in the United States and Europe faced a rapidly changing economic environment. Wartime production had significantly expanded industrial capacity, and companies were now grappling with the need to transition to peacetime production. In addition, the post-war period was characterized by labor shortages in many industries due to the demobilization of soldiers and the return of women to traditional domestic roles. Companies were thus compelled to reassess their HRM strategies to maintain high levels of productivity and meet growing consumer demand.

One of the major shifts in HRM during this time was the move away from welfare-based programs toward a focus on maximizing productivity and organizational efficiency. In the 1920s and early 1930s, welfare capitalism had been characterized by initiatives that sought to improve employee morale and loyalty through benefits such as health insurance, company housing, and recreational programs. However, with the rise of mass production and increased competition, companies began to prioritize the efficient allocation of labor, cost management, and output, rather than employee welfare alone.

The introduction of performance-based incentives, job evaluation programs, and more rigorous recruitment processes became common HRM practices in the post-war period. As companies sought to streamline operations, HR departments increasingly focused on hiring the right employees for specific roles and developing training programs to enhance workers’ skills and productivity. These efforts were driven by a growing recognition that human resources were a critical factor in maintaining a competitive edge in a rapidly expanding global market.

The Professionalization of HRM

As HRM evolved in the post-war period, the field became more professionalized, with an increasing number of companies establishing formal HR departments staffed by specialists in personnel management. This shift was driven in part by the rise of new managerial ideologies that emphasized scientific management and the efficient organization of labor. HR professionals were tasked with applying principles of organizational psychology, sociology, and economics to optimize workforce management and improve labor relations.

One key development during this period was the growing influence of the behavioral sciences on HRM practices. Researchers such as Abraham Maslow and Douglas McGregor introduced theories of motivation and human behavior that had a profound impact on how companies approached employee management. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, for example, emphasized the importance of addressing both the basic and higher-level psychological needs of employees to motivate them and enhance job satisfaction. McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y presented two contrasting views of workforce motivation—one based on authoritarian control (Theory X) and the other on employee self-direction and creativity (Theory Y). These theories encouraged HR managers to adopt more flexible and human-centered approaches to managing their workforce, promoting a culture of empowerment rather than strict control.

The professionalization of HRM also led to the development of new training programs and certification processes for HR professionals. By the 1950s, universities and business schools in the United States and Europe began offering courses in personnel management and industrial relations, helping to formalize HRM as a recognized profession. The establishment of professional HR organizations, such as the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) in the U.S., provided HR practitioners with networking opportunities, industry standards, and a platform for sharing best practices.

The Influence of Labor Unions on HRM

Another major factor shaping HRM in the post-war period was the role of labor unions. Union membership had surged during the New Deal era, and by the 1950s, unions represented a significant portion of the industrial workforce in both the United States and Europe. This period saw the negotiation of comprehensive collective bargaining agreements that covered wages, working conditions, benefits, and job security. As a result, HR departments were increasingly responsible for managing labor relations and ensuring compliance with union contracts.

In unionized companies, the role of HRM became more complex. HR managers had to navigate the demands of unionized workers while also maintaining productivity and profitability for the organization. Labor relations specialists within HR departments were tasked with negotiating labor agreements, handling grievances, and managing strikes and work stoppages. The rise of industrial disputes in the post-war period further underscored the importance of HRM in maintaining harmonious relations between workers and management.

While unions posed challenges for HR departments, they also created opportunities for collaboration. In many cases, HR managers worked closely with union representatives to develop joint labor-management programs aimed at improving worker morale and productivity. For example, in industries such as manufacturing and mining, labor-management committees were established to address issues such as safety, job training, and worker welfare. These collaborative initiatives reflected the evolving role of HRM in fostering cooperation between labor and management, rather than simply serving as an agent of management.

The Emergence of Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM)

By the 1960s, the focus of HRM had shifted from merely managing personnel to aligning human resources with broader corporate objectives—a development that laid the foundation for what would later be known as strategic human resource management (SHRM). SHRM emphasized the role of HRM in contributing to the overall success of the organization by ensuring that HR practices were integrated with the company’s strategic goals.

One of the driving forces behind the emergence of SHRM was the increasing recognition that human capital was a key source of competitive advantage. As companies expanded globally and faced greater competition, the need to attract, develop, and retain skilled workers became paramount. HR departments were tasked with not only managing day-to-day personnel issues but also developing long-term strategies for workforce planning, leadership development, and talent management.

HR professionals began to play a more active role in corporate decision-making, advising executives on issues such as organizational restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, and international expansion. The rise of HR metrics and analytics during this period also enabled HR departments to quantify their impact on the organization and demonstrate the value of their contributions to business performance.

Conclusion

The post-war period from 1945 to 1965 marked a critical phase in the evolution of HRM, as companies transitioned from welfare-based personnel management to more strategic, productivity-focused approaches. The professionalization of HRM, the influence of behavioral sciences, and the growing importance of labor relations all contributed to the development of a more sophisticated and formalized HRM function. As companies faced new economic and competitive pressures, HR departments increasingly aligned their practices with broader corporate goals, laying the groundwork for the emergence of strategic human resource management. This period set the stage for the continued evolution of HRM into a key strategic function in organizations worldwide.

[alwaysbewoke]

[communistkenobi]

I’m not well-read on the critiques of butler’s work so I don’t want this to come off as dismissive of those critiques, but I find myself in an eternally apologetic stance with butler because they have forever pissed off so many people with their theory of gender. like they open Bodies That Matter by saying “I” is a gendered pronoun & every cis feminist has been having a permanent public meltdown about it ever since

[valeriannnn]

I know little of the Keepers and their cultural norms, but I suppose it should not come as a surprise that matters of grooming and personal maintenance should carry a more pragmatic connotation for those who live in such isolation - or perhaps our friend is simply strange, regardless of his context. I must admit: it was no small comfort to me, in those frigid days heralding the twilight of the Dragonsong War, to discover that our champion did not share our Sharlayan intuition toward personal space. Our more guarded companions don't always share my gratitude for the attention, but I believe that after our long estrangement, even the coldest of hearts could not fail to be warmed by such a gesture.

Wolcred Week 2024 Day 1: Warmth | Home

ok as mentioned in the tags i didnt have time to render a complete scene for this but i found this old mspaint sketch that demonstrates the Vibe. tyagoa just walked up behind him after cleaning up from their meal

[slothlifepolitics]

I saw a post about someones plans for after the revolution, and I’m begging leftist to get serious for 5 minutes.  Y’all talk about and predict a revolution with the same reliability and trustworthiness as evangelicals talk about armageddon. US Leftist can’t keep their shit together enough to wear masks and to help poor people get masks because they are expensive.  But sure a revolution is going to happen any day now. In the US many disabled people like myself are now homebound because we can’t safely go outside.  Abled leftist admittedly refuse to do anything to change that.  They are to busy posting quotes from long dead white men, about ideas those dead white men stole from indigenous peoples. If US leftist can’t cope with something like covid, how the fuck do you expect to pull off a revolution?

[inknopewetrust]

the irony of civil war turning into a divisive and misunderstood film is not lost

[marginal-notes]

Okay, so. No one needs to hear me out on this. I’m just saying. One day I’m going to crack and heave out all my biting commentary about Naruto gender and clan and lineage politics through the lens of an always-a-different-sex Kakashi fic or outline, and it’s just going to… exist… out there.

No one else gets changed, it’s just Kakashi, and it’s going to be a nightmare from start to finish that’s definitely also heavily tinged by my personal perspective on being agender aro ace.

[thelawsofdaylight]

There’s so much to enjoy about 1.1.2 but here are some of my favourite things:

The immediate contrast we get between the lavish, detail-ridden, paragraphs-long description of the palace versus barely even a sentence about the hospital. I know we mock Hugo a lot for his digressions but the man DOES know how to be concise! He uses short sentences for effect all the time and this is one of my fave examples because it’s also just very funny in its bluntness.

The Bishop questioning the director of the hospital and saying some variation of ‘I know’ after every response. We saw it in the last chapter as well with how he addresses Napoleon but again, the sheer confidence!! The boldness!! Bishop M does not fuck around!!

“There is some mistake, I tell you; you have my house, and I have yours. Give me back my house” ICONIC ENERGY, ABSOLUTELY UNMATCHED

The Bishop filing absolutely everything under household expenses to the chagrin of Mme Magloire. On that note, the extent to which that house would fall apart without her and Mlle Baptistine because the Bishop is determined to give absolutely everything away (’and still I am cramped with it all!’)

’Expenses of carriage and circuit’ *goes on to list things that have nothing to do with carriage and circuit to the value of 3000 livres* this part always cracks me up there’s just something about the way Hugo writes which is almost tongue-in-cheek during these chapters, especially with the set up beforehand where the rich senator rants about how Bishop M is swindling money he doesn’t need for his own selfish gain. Once again, Les Mis is a comedy!!!!!!

“As there is always more wretchedness below than there is brotherhood above” what a raw line. And we’re only in the second chapter!

Also, whilst we’re here: this is the point!!!! I know we all joke about the ‘the following has no direct bearing on the story’ thing but these first few chapters do such a good job establishing the thesis of the novel. Bishop M is literally the most altruistic guy ever to the point where it borders on parody and there is still more ‘wretchedness’ than he can ever possibly solve as an individual, even just in the small town of Digne, even with donating the majority of his income to the poor and taking the principle of abnegation to the extreme. It feels like Hugo is anticipating criticism to the tune of ‘we don’t need structural change we just need more charity/inidividual change/philanthropy/etc!’ and immediately rejecting that as a solution before the novel even gets properly underway by showing how no amount of selflessness will ever overcome the power of systemic violence. (Also for more on this here is a really good post by @secretmellowblog​ about Bishop M but do be aware it has small spoilers for future chapters if you’re doing a first-time read and want to avoid those!)

In summary:

[curioscurio]

ITS 9 AT NIGHT DONT YOU NEED TO LEAVE AND TAKE YOUR 4 YEAR OLD HOME YET GO AWAY I WANT ALL OF YOU TO LEAVE MY HOUSE AND GIVE ME SOME PEACE FOR A FEW HOURS. literally my social battery is negative its negative and you playing cocomelon at 9pm on this Saturday night in my own fucking home is killing me. I have not had more than 30 minutes of privacy the past 3 days just GO AWAY GO AWAY

[alwaysbewoke]

[theflashjaygarrick]

Feel like pure shit, just want John Stewart to be an architect again.

[tampon-on-the-sidewalk]

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[unproduciblesmackdown]

no context no details "these days ppl can't Work Through Conflicts or they don't Try hard enough & this is why Communities are broken :(" how is it meaningfully different from "look at the divorce rates Today vs in the '50s :( everyone just throws marriages away. Women aren't having Kids everyone just throws Families away"

"oh these days people can think about their experiences as Trauma or Abuse simply if they Want to :( you can't even talk to anyone anymore, if you make them uncomfortable (through no fault of your own. they're too sensitive & i'm simply always Being Normal) they'll be crying victim :(" how is this meaningfully different from "ugh how can a man talk to a coworker woman anymore or even look at her. how can men try to flirt with and date women anymore :( everythinnng's misogyny ohh harassment assault oppression because you breathed in her direction :("

[deeply-unserious-fellow]

I see a lot of stuff like "I can't believe [group of people] are saying [blatantly incorrect thing] about [controversial, important and/or stupid subject]" and I'll roll my eyes and just scroll past because I haven't seen anybody saying that, y'all are just being dramatic. And it has just now occurred to me that maybe this is because I don't have Twitter and barely interact with Tik Tok- I am simply not online enough to have the full, stupid picture of all the goddamn discourse.

[bancaishi]

didn't want to put this rant in the tags of that last post but honestly i feel like a lot of people hate toshiro disproportionately compared to what he actually did in-story. and if we're being real it's most likely because of racism

[batemanofficial]

hello upper middle class northern usamerican tumblr user. i want to play a game. you will notice that you are in a super america convenience store in rural kentucky - you have three minutes to purchase a snack and drink of your choice and make normal small talk with the cashier. however, if you use the word "cryptid" or generally make reference to appalachia and its inhabitants as "wild", uncivilized, or lacking restraint around alcoholic beverages during your time here, i will personally tie you to the chassis of a four wheeler and tip it into the river. live or die. make your choice