Definition of the word human resources

The term "human resources" (HR) emerged in the mid-20th century to describe the people who worked for a company or organization. It was coined as a more business-like and strategic alternative to the traditional term "personnel," which had a more administrative and transactional connotation. In the 1950s and 1960s, when HR was gaining popularity as a discipline, there was a shift in how organizations approached management. The focus shifted from maximizing efficiency and productivity to treating employees as valuable resources that needed to be managed strategically. This approach aligned with the broader trend of viewing businesses as machines that could be engineered for optimal performance. The term "human resources" was chosen to reflect this view. It recognized that people were not just a cost to the organization but rather an asset that required investment, development, and management. The term also reflected a shift towards a more global and diverse workforce, as the term "human" encompasses people from all corners of the world, regardless of ethnicity or cultural background. In summary, the origin of the term "human resources" reflects a business philosophy that values people as integral to achieving organizational goals, and as a consequence, requires a strategic approach to managing them for optimal performance.