A Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice

Before such workplace innovations as e-mail and microwaves in the staff rooms, there were personnel departments who placed job adverts, dutifully sorted applications and passed round the odd memo on staff incentive schemes. Today we have HR divisions, as business finally realises that its best resource is the human element of its organisation. This book is a complete manual for the new breed of manager who sees staff as something more than numbers on the payroll. Everything you need to develop strategies for recruiting, training and motivating staff is here. From the job description to the golden handshake. Beginning with the basics of what makes an effective HR manager, through to recognising your staff's needs and meeting them, to overcoming barriers to organisational motivation and rewarding good employees. This book is filled with useful models on everything from how to formalise policies (such as health and safety), training, equal opportunities monitoring and keeping good HR records. At its basic level, it is an invaluable tool for anyone who has staff to deal with as it sets out simply and practically how to manage your company's most important asset--its people. This is the seventh edition of this manual and the author has included new chapters on the employment relationship, selection interviewing, performance management and organisational culture. --Kristen Bowditch

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Important reading - Rated
Ideal for those studying for HR at HNC level and above. Takes a lot of jargon out of the subject and strays away from buzz words and managerial techy speak.

A Handbook of Human Resource Management Practice - Rated
Very easy to read. All theories are explained in simple terms that are easily understood.

Lots of bullet points instead of long paragraphs. Theories demonstrated by simple table and diagrams.

Index by subject and a second index by author, with lots of references to other writers.

EXCELLENT BOOK - used for MBA

Highly Recommended ! - Rated
Human resources professionals will find Michael Armstrong's book practical, helpful and relevant. It discusses all facets of current practice, including such relatively new developments as e-learning and recruiting, and it discusses how you can help your organization implement change. The book would make an excellent college text, since it covers HRM's evolution, principles, theories, practice, research, job descriptions and more. The author seems to have two goals: to provide comprehensive information about human resource management and to persuade upper level managers to integrate HRM into strategic planning. This would empower HR departments to generate broader organizational results. To get the most from this manual, given its textbook style, practitioners may wish to study it chapter by chapter. Since organizational philosophies, functions and practices differ, it even lends itself to further discussion when HRM professionals gather to share ideas and swap proven practices. We think those in the field will derive a great deal of value from this book.

Practical and Relevant to all Managers in an organisation - Rated
As a CIMA Student, I have found this book extremely useful for Paper 11 (OM) and no doubt will find it just a useful in later papers. As a supervisor I have found it practical and helpful in all areas of work directly and indirectly linked with staff management. A very good reference book for managers and students alike.

Enthusiastic review of all encompassing HRM handbook - Rated
Michael Armstrongs book is an invaluable tool for anyone new to management or to general HRM.
His topic coverage is so wide ranging as to leave nothing uncovered and whilst the number of topics does not lend itself to huge indepth coverage, it gives you more than enough information to be able to practically use. Should you wish to research further into any topic, there are numerous excellent references.
I have been using the book in conjuction with my P&D masters degree but find that I use it just as much in my day to day work.
The issues covered range from strategic HRM to specic team focus issues (motivation, teamworking etc) and in between cover the whole gamut of HRM from recruitment to employee realtions,from organisational learning to knowledge management.
Nothing is omitted.
If you are new to management, this book could become your bible. I highly recommend it.