HR PROFESSIONALS’ EFFECTIVENESS AND COMPETENCIES: A PERCEPTUAL STUDY IN THE BANKING SECTOR OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study examines the human resource (HR) Professionals’ Effectiveness through the lens of HR Professionals’ Competencies and HR Professionals’ Willingness. The Human Resource Competency Study model is used in this research, which is modified to include ‘Willingness’ as an important competency. Impact of HR Professionals’ Social (HRSC), HR Professionals’ Technical Competencies (HRTC) and HR Professionals’ Willingness (HRPW) on HR Professionals’ Effectiveness is measured. The study is undertaken using data drawn from the line managers of the largest bank among the privatized banks of Pakistan. It is hypothesized that all HR Professionals’ Competencies are equally and strongly related to HR Professionals’ Effectiveness which is theoretically associated with organizational performance. The analysis reveals that the HR Professionals’ Competencies have a significant high correlation with HR Professionals’ Effectiveness. However, this relationship is stronger for HRSC than HRTC or HRPW and within the sub constructs ‘Credible Activist’ has the stronger relationship contrary to our expectations. It is also concluded that the HR professionals’ of the bank are lacking the competencies and hence have a negative impact on their effectiveness in the banking sector of Pakistan. Keeping in mind the relationship between HR Professionals’ Effectiveness and organizational performance, the need to enhance HR Professionals’ Competencies is highlighted.