The context of globalization and human resource need and strategy for developing countries the case of African countries

Globalization has a major impact on the management of human resources in developing countries especially in African countries. It has led to homogenization and convergence in organization strategies, structures and processes as well as in consumer choice. With accelerating globalization, organizations have had to change and new trends have set in even in the management of human resources. Globalization was defined by [11] as the `intensification of worldwide social relations which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring miles away and vice versa'. This definition embodies some interrelated ideas, of “accelerating interdependence” [17] of “action at a distance” [11] and of “time-space compression” [13]. `Accelerating interdependence' is understood to be the growing intensity of international enmeshment among national economies and societies, such that developments in one country impacts directly on another country. `Time space compression' refers to the manner in which globalization appears to shrink geographical distance and time. In a world of near instantaneous communication, distance and time no longer seem to be major constraints on patterns of human organization and interaction [14]. For the case of African countries, what is the current state of staffing in terms of numbers, knowledge, skills, attitude, etc in the Public service in African countries? To answer such a question one would need to undertake a comprehensive stock-taking and analysis of Public Service employees in every country. This paper cannot claim to have conducted such an extensive and laborious exercise. Reading through Public/Civil Service Reform documents in a number of African countries, it is evident that the public Service has for long been experiencing difficulties in recruiting and retaining competent staff let alone talented ones. The situation may vary from country to country but it is generally acknowledged that recruiting and retaining professionally knowledgeable, skilled, committed, talented, and motivated personnel in the Public Service constitutes a daunting challenge in African countries. The author of this paper explain the human resource need for development in African countries as well as the strategic resource as a response to the challenge of globalization in African Countries.