For the profession to figure as a strategic business partner in developing and executing organisational strategy, there is a mammoth task ahead of proving its credentials. Currently there is no framework for accreditation of this profession and every organisation has its own brand of practices. However, HRM as a profession needs to have five distinct characteristics:
First, it must have a national body that can speak as a unified voice for its members. In our country, the only organisation which has the potential to become an HR body is, the Society of Human Resource Management (PSHRM) located in Karachi. In order to act as a unified voice, it needs to expand its chapters to other cities and do something meaningful for the countrywide growth of HR profession.
Second, characteristic of a profession is to have standards of behaviour relating to ethics, justice, truthfulness and social responsibility. Under the circumstances when there is not much of emphasis on these areas—neither at the academia nor at professional level- PSHRM should make some serious efforts to achieve these values.
Third, it would not be unfair to say that except for a few academic institutions, the concept of professional research is almost non- existent. HR intelligentsia representing giant companies in PSHRM have financial resources and expertise and could mobilise indigenous research in the human resource development..
HRM is not a universal phenomenon. Its best practices in the advanced countries lose their relevance when transplanted anywhere else. Hence in Pakistan, it significantly differs in terms of compensation legislation, industrial laws, people psychology and most importantly, culture. Some universities don’t have even books containing local literature and teach American and European laws from where these books come. The PSHRM must consider this situation.
Finally, to constitute a profession, it has to have a credentialing organisation, setting professional standards to certify credentials of its practitioners. For PSHRM, a good model to replicate is Human Resource Certificate Institute (HRCI) under the supervision of US Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). If any such body is set up here, it can facilitate HR professionals in enabling them to add real value to business organisations.
PSHRM should serve the needs of the profession by providing the essential and comprehensive set of resources, and should encourage fresh students to seek discounted membership and get an opportunity of guidance and professional support by senior practitioners. The body, if proactive on the issues stated above , can fill the vacuum and serve as a focal point in framing human resource practices keeping in view the national requirements.