STEM CELL APPROACH IN HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

The study is conceptual and experimental. It aims to adapt a subject of biology and medical sciences as an approach to human resource management and explores which sub-functions of HRM constitute the basis for each and every sub-function in HRM, just like the stem cell feature. The aim is to ensure the efficient use of resources allocated to HRM and to create awareness for HR employees and managers, who are called HR professionals, to use the resources allocated from the budget in a way that creates leverage effect in HR. In the developed approach, the five main characteristics of the stem cell -environment, reproduction, transformation, renewal and repair- are redefined under HRM and the extent to which the sub-functions of HRM have the characteristics of stem cells is questioned. The approach was reviewed with a focus group study and after the study, the sub-function showing the stem cell feature in HRM emerged as “Business Analysis.” Later, a questionnaire was applied to HR professionals who attended to Turkey and Eurpoe’s largest HR Summit. In the questionnaire a table containing the sub-function of HRM was given and the attendees were asked to indicate the sub-functions which they thought that they had a stem cell feature. Moreover, the attendees were informed that they could mark more than one stem cell feature, leave it empty, or add new sub-functions. 8% of 700 attendees who attended the HR Summit participated in the study. As a result, it was seen that HR professionals placed training-development, selection and placement, employee loyalty practices in the first three rows as stem cells of HRM and business analysis ranked fifth. In practice, it is revealed that HR professionals prefer short-term solutions to stem-cell nutrients which will have long-lasting effect due to intensive agenda, immediate business results and needs