Dr. (Mrs) V.Sujatha, M.Com, M.Phil., Ph.D., Principal, Cauvery College for Women, Trichy-18. CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the thesis entitled, “HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN SPECIALIZED HOSPITALS: A STUDY ON COMPETENCIES OF HUMAN RESOURCE PROFESSIONALS AT TIRUCHIRAPPALLI CORPORATION” is the result of the original research work carried out by Mrs. R. SEETHALAKSHMI , under my guidance and supervision and submitted to the Bharathidasan University for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Commerce. I also declare that this thesis or part of it has not been previously submitted to any other Institute or University for the award of any Degree or Diploma. Place: Date : Research Advisor Mrs. R. SEETHALAKSHMI, M.Com. M.Phil., Cauvery College for Women, Tiruchirappalli – 620 018. DECLARATION I R. SEETHALAKSHMI , hereby declare that the thesis entitled “HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN SPECIALIZED HOSPITALS: A STUDY ON COMPETENCIES OF HUMAN RESOURCE PROFESSIONALS AT TIRUCHIRAPPALLI CORPORATION” is my original work and that it has not previously formed the basis for the award of any Degree, Diploma, Associateship or other similar title. This work has been done under the guidance and supervision of Dr. (Mrs) V. SUJATHA, M.Com. M.Phil., Ph.D., Principal, Cauvery College for Women, Tiruchirappalli-18. Research Scholar Countersigned ACKNOWLEDGEMENT With a profound feeling of fulfillment and gratitude, I am pleased to offer my most humble and heartfelt thanks to GOD for his enriching and encouraging presence all along the way in this arduous, but challenging scholastic pursuit, facilitating my research work to successful completion. I am happy to present my cordial and sincere thanks to the authorities of Bharathidasan University, for granting me the necessary academic sanctions to pursue my research studies. I take this opportunity to express my deep sense of gratitude and sincere thanks to my research guide Dr. V. Sujatha M.Com., M.Phil., Ph.D., Principal, Cauvery college for women, Tiruchirappalli for her constant encouragement, inspiring guidance for extensive reference and valuable suggestions. I offer my abundant gratitude, for the inspiring help and direction which was greatly instrumental, in the fruitful completion of my research work. I am very much grateful to Dr. I. Francis Gnanasekar, M.Com., M.B.A., B.Ed., M.Phil, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Commerce, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli, for his sustained interest and support in my career development and for his positive encouragement which instilled in me courage and confidence and to excel in my academic endeavor. I am indebted to a great extent to Dr. G. Stephen Vincent, M.Sc., M.Phil., Ph.D., Reader, Department of Statistics, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli. His guidance in application of statistical tools formed the authentic base for the conclusive evidences in the finalization of my research resource. I am extremely grateful to the President Mr. M. Jeyaraman, Secretary Mr. K. Rengarajan, Treasurer V. Ramanathan @ Sekar of Cauvery College Governing Council, Trichy for giving me this great opportunity to upgrade my academic status and enhance my professional competency. I owe my sincere debt of gratitude to Dr. N. Savithri, M.Com., M.Phil., Ph.D., Head Department of Commerce, Cauvery College for Women, Tiruchirappalli, and all the faculties of the department for the optimistic encouragement and sustained support in my academic endeavor, to pursue my research project to fruitful completion. I offer my grateful acknowledgement for the kind help and cooperation extended to me in my work by the management of the selected hospitals who gave me the permission to undertake my study in this area. I thank the Human Resource professionals for distributing the questionnaire to the employees in the various departments and facilitating to offer sincere and rational response. Also I convey my sincere thanks to all the employees of the hospitals for having spared their valuable time, to contribute for this study. My cordial thanks to Library Authorities of Bharathidasan University, Madras University and Indian Medical Association, Tiruchirappalli, who have permitted me to refer the Journals, Magazines and Books. I offer my sincere thanks to Ms. Regina John, MCA, Department of Computer Science, Bishop Heber College, Trichy for providing the latest software tools, along with the appropriate technological support to facilitate the consolidation of my research work. I am happy to offer my sincere thanks to Ms. Subha , Assistant professor in English, Cauvery College for Women, Tiruchirappalli, for effective assistance in my research working papers. I wish to express my sincere thanks to Golden Net Computers for their diligent efforts in the perfect computerization of my research thesis. A special mention of my heartfelt thanks to my dear friends for their abiding faith in my capabilities and their excellent support, accelerated interest at crucial times which motivated me to work with my research project towards successful completion as per time schedule. Motivation and optimization are essential components for the success in my challenging endeavor. On a personal note, I wish to thank my family members for their understanding, adaptability by offering meaningful and timely help. My heartfelt thanks to my sister Archana , for encouraging support by creating a conducive environment which reduced my stress and strain of this onerous task to succeed in my set goal. I gratefully remember all the invisible individuals, who have worked behind the screen, if not this thesis, would be a dream. I thank them all. R.R.R. Seethalakshmi (Research Scholar) CONTENTS Page Chapter Title No. I Introduction 1 II Review of Literature 27 III Profile of the Study Area and Hospitals 77 Competencies of HR Professional and Human Resource IV 103 Management Practices V Analysis and Interpretation 150 VI Findings, Suggestions and Conclusion 241 Bibliography B 1 Appendix I. Questionnaire Q 1 II. International Papers Publication Q 10 LIST OF TABLES Table Page Title No. No. 1.1 Classification of Employees in Selected Hospitals as on 16 31.12.2010 5.1 Socioeconomic and Demographic Profile of Human 152 Resource Professionals 5.2 Respondents Currently Pursuing Training related to Human 155 Resource Management 5.3 Respondents Interested in Pursuing Training related to HRM 156 5.4 Respondents level of strategic contribution skill 157 5.5 Respondents level of Personal Credibility skill 159 5.6 Respondents level of HR Delivery 160 5.7 Respondents level of Managerial Skill 161 5.8 Respondents level of Administrative skill 162 5.9 Respondents level of Internal Consultations 163 5.10 Respondents overall Level of Competencies 164 5.11 Respondents overall Level of Performance of Human 165 Resources Activities 5.12 spearman’s correlation between demographic factors (HR 166 experience, education level, and income) and HR competencies 5.13(a) Correlation - Competencies of Human Resource Professionals 171 and their Performance in Human Resource Management Activity 5.13(b) ANOVA - Competencies of Human Resource Professionals 171 and their Performance in Human Resource Management Activity 5.13(c) Regression - Competencies of Human Resource Professionals 172 and their Performance in Human Resource Management Activity 5.14(a) One way ANOVA - Level of competencies among the HR 174 Professionals in four Selected Hospitals 5.14(b) Homogeneous Subsets - Competencies of HR Professionals 175 5.14(c) Descriptive Statistics - Level of competencies among the 176 HR Professionals in four Selected Hospitals 5.15 Employees - Respondent’s Classification on the basis of Age 178 5.16 Employees - Respondent’s Classification on the basis of Gender 179 5.17 Employees - Respondent’s Classification on the basis of 180 Educational Qualification 5.18 Employees - Respondent’s Classification on the basis of 181 Marital Status 5.19 Employees - Respondent’s Classification on the basis of 182 Domicile 5.20 Employees - Respondent’s Classification on the basis of 183 Family Type 5.21 Employees - Respondent’s Classification on the basis of 184 Cadre 5.22 Employees - Respondent’s Classification on the basis of 185 Department 5.23 Employees - Respondent’s Classification on the basis of 186 Experience 5.24 Employees - Respondent’s Classification on the basis of 187 Annual Income 5.25 Employees - Respondent’s Opinion towards Recruitment 188 and Selection 5.26 Employees - Respondent’s opinion towards Training and 190 Development 5.27 Employees - Respondent’s opinion towards Staff Promotion 191 5.28 Employees - Respondent’s opinion towards Performance 192 Appraisal Systems (PAS) 5.29 Employees - Respondent’s Opinion towards Career 193 Development 5.30 Employees - Respondent’s Opinion towards Incentives, 194 Compensation 5.31 Employees - Respondent’s Opinion towards Recognition 195 and Reward 5.32 Employees - Respondent’s Opinion towards Flexibility 196 Work Option 5.33 Employees - Respondent’s Opinion towards Job Design 197 5.34 Employees - Respondent’s Opinion towards Employee’s 198 Participation and Communication 5.35 Employees - Respondent’s Overall Opinion towards 199 Human Resources Practices 5.36 Dispersion of Gender on the basis of the Opinion on 201 Recruitment and Selection 5.37 Mann Whitney u test between Genders of the respondents 203 and HRM Practices 5.38 Chi-square - Association between the domiciles of the 207 respondents and the HRM Practices 5.39 Kruskal-Wallis test - the