Influence

• Only in the past few decades have corporations recognized the value of the human resources department. The consequent specialization of human resources professionals has given them more respect and more influence over decisions and policies affecting employees.
  
  

Increase in Power

• Power within companies typically belongs to corporate decision makers. Human resources managers have recently carved out a role for themselves in writing policies and procedures and developing programs for retention and performance improvement. This partnership has increased the power and influence of human resources managers.
  
  

Politics

• Politics within an organization can result in a "tug of war" between human resources managers and line managers. The political arena continues to be a major challenge for human resources and must be considered in all policy and decision-making processes. The perceptions that line and human resources managers have about each other sometimes make teamwork difficult.
  
  

Solutions

• Although there cannot be one specific solution to the challenges of human resource management, one major step is for human resource professionals to get out of the office and down to the front line. Learning about the business and understanding the mission of the company goes a long way toward building relationships.
  
  

Summary

• The respect for the field of human resources is increasing as HR workers are being trained in operations, marketing, finance and other important areas. Although challenges are still present, collaborative efforts to meet those challenges are stronger.