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“All managers are, in a sense, HR managers, since they all get involved in activities
like recruiting, interviewing, selecting, and training.”
-Gary Dessler
Yet most firms also have a human resource department with its own human resource manager.
How do the duties of this HR manager and his or her staff relate to "line" managers' human
resource duties?
Authority is the right to make decisions, to direct the work of others, and to give orders. In
management, we usually distinguish between line authority and staff authority.
Making decisions, directing work, Giving orders are authorities’ characteristics.
Line Managers are authorized to direct the work of subordinates---they’re always someone’s
boss. In addition, line managers are in charge of accomplishing the organization’s basic goals.
For example, hotel managers and the managers for production and sales)
Accomplishing goals and direct the work of subordinates
Staff Managers, on the other hand, are authorized to assist and advise line managers in
accomplishing these basic goals. HR managers are generally staff managers. They are
responsible for advising line managers (like those for production and sales)in areas like
recruiting, hiring, and compensation.(Assisting and advising line managers )
Line Manager’s HRM responsibilities
We should know that HR managers are in most of the cases even now in this modern world
generally staff managers. They are responsible for advising line managers (like those for
production and sales) in areas like recruiting, hiring, and compensation. One major company
outlined its line supervisors' responsibilities for effective human resource management under the
following general headings:
The human resource department provides this specialized assistance. Thus an HR manager will
perform three distinct functions:
1. A line function. An HR manager possesses a line authority over his own department to
accomplish the task and roles assigned to each employees of the department. And since
the majority of the decision is trickled down from the corporate level, he actually exudes
such power. His suggestions also are taken as orders.
3. Staff functions. This is basically an advisory role played by the manager whereby he only
assists line managers, but that does not mean his advice shall be taken finally. It all
depends on the discretion of the line manager. Such a function involves assisting on areas
such as, training, evaluating, rewarding, counseling, promoting, and firing of employees,
etc.) many a times HR managers also update the line managers as well as top
management regarding the current trends and new methods of solving problems.
Thus we can conclude that there are certain areas, which are solely left on the Managers
prerogative. While there are many areas where a kind of cooperative responsibility by both
the HR manager and the line manager is required. Please refer to the table for the
differentiation between each responsibility
In summary, as Dessler remarks, “HR management is an integral part of every manager’s job.
Whether you’re a first line supervisor, manager, or president, whether you’re a production
manager sales manager, office manager, hospital administrator, or HR manager, getting results
through people is the name of the game.”