Staffing – Definition, Meaning, Functions, Importance

The compilation of these Staffing Notes makes students exam preparation simpler and organised.

Introduction to Staffing and its Meaning

Staffing is the process of hiring eligible candidates in the organization or company for specific positions. In management, the meaning of staffing is an operation of recruiting the employees by evaluating their skills, knowledge and then offering them specific job roles accordingly. Let us find out more about what is Staffing and what it entails along with its functions and characteristics.

What is Staffing?

Staffing

Definition: Staffing can be defined as one of the most important functions of management. It involves the process of filling the vacant position of the right personnel at the right job, at right time. Hence, everything will occur in the right manner.

It is a truth that human resource is one of the greatest for every organization because in any organization all other resources like- money, material, machine, etc. can be utilized effectively and efficiently by the positive efforts of human resources.

Therefore it is very important that each and every person should get the right position in the organization so as to get the right job, according to their ability, talent, aptitude, and specializations so that it will help the organization to achieve the pre-set goals in the proper way by the 100% contribution of manpower. Thus it can be said that it is staffing is an essential function of every business organization. From this, we can understand what is Staffing?

Staffing 1

Functions of Staffing

  • The first and foremost function of staffing is to obtain qualified personnel for different jobs position in the organization.
  • In staffing, the right person is recruited for the right jobs, therefore it leads to maximum productivity and higher performance.
  • It helps in promoting the optimum utilization of human resources through various aspects.
  • Job satisfaction and morale of the workers increase through the recruitment of the right person.
  • Staffing helps to ensure better utilization of human resources.
  • It ensures the continuity and growth of the organization, through development managers.

Importance of Staffing

Efficient Performance of Other Functions
For the efficient performance of other functions of management, staffing is key. Since, if an organization does not have competent personnel, then it cannot perform the functions of management like planning, organizing, and control functions properly.

Effective Use of Technology and Other Resources
What is staffing and technology’s connection? Well, it is the human factor that is instrumental in the effective utilization of the latest technology, capital, material, etc. the management can ensure the right kinds of personnel by performing the staffing function.

Optimum Utilization of Human Resources
The wage bill of big concern is quite high. Also, a huge amount is spent on recruitment, selection, training, and development of employees. To get the optimum output, the staffing function should be performed in an efficient manner.

Development of Human Capital
Another function of staffing is concerned with human capital requirements. Since the management is required to determine in advance the manpower requirements. Therefore, it has also to train and develop the existing personnel for career advancement. This will meet the requirements of the company in the future.

The Motivation of Human Resources
In an organization, the behaviour of individuals is influenced by various factors which are involved such as education level, needs, socio-cultural factors, etc. Therefore, the human aspects of the organization have become very important and so that the workers can also be motivated by financial and non-financial incentives in order to perform their functions properly in achieving the objectives.

Building Higher Morale
The right type of climate should be created for the workers to contribute to the achievement of the organizational objectives. Therefore, by performing the staffing function effectively and efficiently, the management is able to describe the significance and importance which it attaches to the personnel working in the enterprise.

Characteristics of Staffing

People-Centered
Staffing can broadly view as a people-centered function and therefore it is relevant for all types of organizations. It is concerned with categories of personnel from top to bottom of the organization.

  • Blue-collar workers (i.e., those working on the machines and engaged in loading, unloading, etc.) and white-collar workers (i.e., clerical employees).
  • Managerial and Non Managerial personal.
  • Professionals (eg.- Chartered Accountant, Company Secretary)

Responsibility of Manager
Staffing is the basic function of management which involves that the manager is continuously engaged in performing the staffing function. They are actively associated with the recruitment, selection, training, and appraisal of their subordinates. Therefore the activities are performed by the chief executive, departmental managers, and foremen in relation to their subordinates.

Human Skills
Staffing function is mainly concerned with different types of training and development of human resource and therefore the managers should use human relation skills in providing guidance and training to the subordinates. If the staffing function is performed properly, then the human relations in the organization will be cordial and mutually performed in an organized manner.

Continuous Function
Staffing function is to be performed continuously which is equally important for a new and well-established organization. Since in a newly established organization, there has to be recruitment, selection, and training of personnel. As we compare that, the organization which is already a running organization, then at that place every manager is engaged in various staffing activities.

Therefore, he is responsible for managing all the workers in order to get work done for the accomplishment of the overall objectives of an organization.

Example:

Question 1.
Staffing is concerned with _________
a. plans
b. policies
c. procedures
d. management of managers
Answer:
The correct answer is the option “d”.
Staffing is concerned with the management of managers as staffing is performed by every manager of the enterprise as he is actively associated with the recruitment, selection, training, and appraisal of his subordinates.