Page 54 - DLIS003_LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

Unit 3: Personnel Administration in Library

that occur in the total socio-economic environment. The political environment also affects the Notes
work environment in an organization. Such changes get reflected in personnel administration.
These changes can be:
(i) changing mix of the personnel entering government service organization
(ii) changing values of personnel
(iii) increasing expectations of the government from their employees and

(iv) increasing expectations of the people from the government at different levels.
Thus management is affected by the changes in the social, economic and political scenario.
In fact it has to keep up with these changes. A higher number from schedule castes, tribes and
other economically backward classes are joining the government service. A greater number of
people with higher education, more women, and more technically skilled workers are also
joining the government service. This has really changed the ratios of working force. With the
proliferation of activities under development and welfare Programmes, the employees are now
expected to be more competent and efficient. People at large expect the administration to be
efficient, effective and sympathetic. People involvement in administrative activities is increasing.
Due to the constant demands of administration, the role of personnel administration is also
changing.

Personnel are required to perform line and staff functions. Activities directly related to the
primary objective of an organization are called as line functions. The staff functions are those
which facilitate and assist the performance of line work. They are in the nature of secondary
activities and enhance the effectiveness of the line agencies. For example, assistance in processing
and supplying the required number of personnel and training and development of personnel
are essentially staff functions. An organization cannot function without the assistance of line
and staff personnel. At the same time, personnel function cannot be isolated from the rest of the
administrative functions. Personnel functions include both line and staff activities in an
organization. Personnel administration does not always function in a formal organization.
No organization can solely run on the basis of formal rules and regulations, it comprises human
beings who are structured in an authority and responsibility network in order to carry out the
tasks and activities for the fulfilment of organizational objectives. This formal structure is
supplemented, supported or sometimes obstructed and on occasions taken over by the informal
organization. Informal organization grows within the formal organization. It is a natural
phenomenon and is based on social and cultural relations among the personnel of formal
groups. Political, economic and psychological factors also contribute to the growth of informal
organization. The functions of personnel administration are becoming more complicated day
by day. The problems of personnel administration differ from one organization to the other. Big
organizations have more tasks to perform; they employ more people and serve varied objectives.
The task of personnel administration in such organizations becomes more intricate. As personnel
administration deals with human beings all the time, the crucial functions of motivation and
morale of employees have to be performed by it. It has to meet the growing needs of the people
as well as satisfy the increasing expectations of its employees.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
1. Activities directly related to the primary objective of an organization are called as
………………………….

2. The ………….. functions are those which facilitate and assist the performance of line work.

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