Difference between HRM and Soft HRM

HRM - Hard v Soft HRM
There are a variety of ways to approach the management of HR in a business. The business textbooks like to describe two broad approaches to HRM which are explained further below:
  • “Hard” HR
  • “Soft” HR
However, it is important to remember that, in reality, these two approaches are somewhat academic in nature. In real businesses, an HR department or manager would be likely to adopt elements of both soft and hard HR, and in many cases would not be interested in the slightest in the distinction!



The key features of the hard and soft approach to HR can be summarised as follows:
Hard HR ManagementSoft HR Management
Treats employees simply as a resource of the business (like machinery & buildings)
Strong link with corporate business planning – what resources do we need, how do we get them and how much will they cost
Treats employees as the most important resource in the business and a source of competitive advantage
Employees are treated as individuals and their needs are planned accordingly
Focus of HRM: identify workforce needs of the business and recruit & manage accordingly (hiring, moving and firing)Focus of HRM: concentrate on the needs of employees – their roles, rewards, motivation etc
Key featuresKey features
Short-term changes in employee numbers (recruitment, redundancy)Strategic focus on longer-term workforce planning
Minimal communication, from the top downStrong and regular two-way communication
Pay – enough to recruit and retain enough staff (e.g. minimum wage)Competitive pay structure, with suitable performance-related rewards (e.g. profit share, share options)
Little empowerment or delegationEmployees are empowered and encouraged to seek delegation and take responsibility
Appraisal systems focused on making judgements (good and bad) about staffAppraisal systems focused on identifying and addressing training and other employee development needs
Taller organisational structuresFlatter organisational structures
Suits autocratic leadership styleSuits democratic leadership style
Which of the two approaches is better? The answer is – it depends!
The “hard” approach to HR might be expected to result in a more cost-effective workforce where decision-making is quicker and focused on senior managers. However, such an approach pays relatively little attention to the needs of employees and a business adopting a genuinely “hard” approach might expect to suffer from higher absenteeism and staff turnover and less successful recruitment.
The “soft” approach will certainly appeal to the “touchy-feely” amongst us who like to see people being treated nicely!
And you can also make a good business case for an approach which rewards employee performance and motivates staff more effectively. However, the danger of taking too “soft” an approach is that when all the employee benefits are added up, the cost of the workforce leaves a business at a competitive disadvantage.

33 comments:

  1. Hi dear i am student of MBA. and finding some information regarding Human Resource Management. i really like your post and really get lot of information. Thanks for sharing it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. great help, have a HRM uni exam next week, great for revision!

    ReplyDelete
  3. nice. thanks for sharing. it helps allot.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I really love the theme/design of your website. Do you ever run into any browser compatibility problems? A small number of my blog audience have complained about my site not working correctly in Explorer but looks great in Safari. Do you have any ideas to help fix this problem?Surya Informatics

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you For sharing useful information HRM For Non HR Managers

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you for sharing such a useful piece of information, this is something that I was searching for a long time. I also read about
    Human Resource Consulting Firm

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nice Article... useful information...Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  10. this infomation is so usefull keep on doing wonders

    ReplyDelete
  11. Getting onboard with changes in HR technology demonstrates that you're moving with the times. It also shows that you're willing to embrace new methods and systems that make the application process easier for candidates, which is good for your employer brand. Read: https://www.randstad.com.sg/workforce-insights/talent-management/how-to-reshape-your-hr-strategy-to-survive-and-thrive/

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thank you .. useful information

    ReplyDelete

  13. Excellent post ! Thanks for posting Hrms Software Features Softwares help to make the Payroll work easy. They are one of the payroll developing companies. They provide the best payroll outsourcing and HR Software.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thank for explaining this info very nicely. HR and HRM both have very good benefits. I will also do my PGDM in HR

    ReplyDelete
  15. It's a blessing for us all management students

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks for sharing this difference between HRM and soft HRM. I am student of online MBA programand I found this very informative keep sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Excellent post ! Thanks for posting Hrms Software Features Softwares help to make the Payroll work easy. They are one of the payroll developing companies. They provide the best payroll outsourcing and HR Software.
    Hrms Software Features
    End To End Hr Solutions

    ReplyDelete
  18. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for writing this great article! It’s very informative, and you included some great points to the equally great article regarding Outsource Customer Services.

    ReplyDelete
  20. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks for this tutorial post, got so many information about Ultimate Hr Solutions HR Connect is the all-in-one HR Suite built for local businesses, With HR Connect you can handle, from onboarding to offboarding. For more please visit: https://hrconnect.pk/

    ReplyDelete
  22. This post is so relevant and so informative. It helps other a lot. Keep blogging. For more information click on Payroll companies in Bangalore

    ReplyDelete
  23. Nice post! You are giving the excellent points to understand Hr Management Software . The key features are really helpful to understand HRMS easily. Keep Sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thanks for the informative blog! waiting for next post.- HRIS

    ReplyDelete
  25. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Great post explaining the differences between hard and soft HRM! To enhance the effectiveness of either approach, consider integrating a Cloud Based Hrms. This modern solution streamlines HR processes by providing real-time data, improving communication, and ensuring accurate record-keeping. With features like remote access, automated reporting, and secure data storage, a Cloud Based HRMS supports both strategic workforce planning and employee-centric management. This technology can bridge the gap between the rigid structures of hard HRM and the flexible, employee-focused nature of soft HRM.

    ReplyDelete

Your Feedback has utmost importance for us, Please spend your few minutes by giving your comments.