Comparative Analysis Of The Challenges Faced By Human Resources Practitioners In Malawi: The Case Of Fdh Bank Limited And Blantyre City Council

Abstract

Human Resources Management (HRM) function is one of the critical components for organisations to achieve their corporate strategy. HRM undertakes critical activities that enable employees to enter, stay and exit the organisation. In the process of employee management HR practitioners face multiple challenges. This study aimed to undertake a comparative analysis of the challenges that are faced by the human resources practitioners at First Discount House (FDH) Bank and Blantyre City Council (BCC). It was an attempt to formulate a comparative analysis of the challenges that human resources practitioners face in the private sector and in the public sector. This was done by first looking at the human resources activities performed in both sectors, then exploring the challenges human resources practitioners meet and the perception of the various stakeholders. A survey questionnaire was administered to 180 respondents from both FDH and BCC, however only 119 responded. The questionnaire provided quantitative data while semi structured interviews with top human resources management provided qualitative data. On HR activities performed, the findings revealed that human resources practitioners perform activities such as training and development, talent management, conflict management, and grievance management, among others. The challenges faced included staff retention, change management, promoting organisational culture and managing multigenerational workforce. Human resources practitioners from BCC encountered three key challenges namely, politics (63%), staff retention (45%) and conflict management (39%). Meanwhile FDH practitioners faced two major challenges, staff retention (71%) and politics (58%). It is quite evident from the study that challenges that are faced emanate from both the internal and external environment in which the organisation operates and as such human resources practitioners need to ensure that they take these into considerations when performing their various functions. Recommendations to tackle highlighted challenges include encouraging employee and line management involvement in human resources management activities which will lead to continual staff engagement with employees for the better appreciation of the human resources function. Secondly, management should ensure human resources practitioners undergo periodic training on people management to better adapt to the dynamic and ever-changing human resources trends.