Words and meanings are artifacts in progress.
All the words tell a lot, when read carefully, including the names of institutions determined with the participation of many stakeholders. For instance, what does the phrase “human resources” mean?
Since the beginning of the industrial revolution, “resource” is the name of the raw material obtained from nature or processed by technological means. Over the course of several centuries of industry, the resource has become something consumed, even plundered. Since it is something that would eventually run out, it must be used with care, sustainably.
Is it really appropriate to see people as resource?
Let’s consider the human being as a value that improves the value of the processes they involve in, and as a value that itself also grows in these processes. Let’s consider how things would change in such an understanding.
The individuals’ contribution to productivity with their physical and mental effort is traditionally assessed with the formula “person/hour/day”. This method may seem convenient for the initial phases of the industrial revolution: The profit-oriented perspective would well be content with the conception of human labor as a passive and measurable entity, such as raw materials, energy and time. However, the potential contribution that individuals can make to the process, each with their own authenticity and uniqueness is overlooked in this rough calculation.
So, let’s rename the “The Department of Human Resources” as “The Department of Human Values”, in order to transform the productivity assessment of the primitive period of the industry. Let’s attempt to measure the value people add to processes. In the new accounting, we should understand who the person is, and what their value may contribute to our shared route.
Of course, the following step should be taken first: People should understand and assess their own potentials and values, so that they become an active part of every process they are involved in.
Put your hands together for the Department of Human Values!
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