Understand the relationship between human resource management and management, and describe approaches to human resource management.

While HRM is management, management is more than HRM. HRM is that part of management dealing directly with people, whereas management includes marketing, management information systems, production, research and development, and accounting and finance. Because the purpose of HRM is to improve the productive contribution of people, it is intimately related to all other aspects of management. Managers manage people, and the management of an organisation's human resources is primarily a line or an operating management responsibility. The degree to which HRM activities are divided between line or operating managers and the HR manager (and their departments) varies between organisations. The precise balance between line and HR management is determined by an organisation's strategic business objectives, its culture and structure, and the quality of its operating and HR managers. \({ }^{46}\)

A human resource specialist in one organisation, for example, may directly handle all negotiations with unions, while in another organisation operating managers may take responsibility for all union negotiations (the HR manager may have an advisory role or no involvement at all). Top management recognition of HRM's effect on organisational performance means that some line managers now compete with HRM.....

Questions

1 What 'reasonable business grounds' might you identify to refuse such a request?
2 What relief could Louise seek if she wished to challenge a refusal on your part?