The Role of Human Resource Management in Driving and Managing Organizational Change in the Palestinian Banking Sector in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

The study aimed at identifying and revealing the Role of Human Resource Management (HRM) in Driving and Managing Organizational Change in the Palestinian Banking Sector in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, the triangulation was used as a method and research approach to carry out the study due to its nature and the nature of the questions it endeavors to answer. Questionnaire was used as a tool to collect the required data after it was developed in accordance with the study objectives and research questions, then target group was surveyed. The target group was comprised of all Senior and Middle Level Managers of banks operating in Palestine. The target group who constituted the study population was selected based on the organizational structure of the general/regional management of each bank, 247 managers out of 430 managers were surveyed and their responses were analyzed. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used to process the collected data extracting means, percentages, frequencies and Cronbach's alpha to measure the internal consistency of the questionnaire after the pilot study was conducted. The Multiple Linear Regression analysis was also used to measure and identify the impact and role of HRM practices in their elements and dimensions (areas) (HR Planning, Recruitment and Selection, Training and Development, Performance Management, Employee Relations and Compliance and Health and safety) and their role in driving and managing organizational change in the Palestinian banking sector in response to covid-19 pandemic; These results revealed that the independent variables (HR Planning, Recruitment and selection, Employee Relations and Compliance and Health and safety) VI positively explained the variance in the dependent variable (Organizational change) in the Palestinian Banking Sector in Response to COVID-19, while, Training and Development and Performance management did not explain the variance in Organizational change in the Palestinian Banking Sector in Response to COVID-19. The result shows that 75.4 % of the variance (R-Square) in Organizational Change could be significantly explained by six independent variables (HR Planning, Recruitment and selection, Training and Development, Performance Evaluation, Employee Relations and Compliance and Health and safety). Health and safety influenced most of variance in Organizational Change in Palestinian Banking Sector in Response to COVID-19 Pandemic, in contrast, the Training and Development and Performance Management had no influence in Organizational Change in Palestinian Banking Sector in Response to COVID-19 because the significant value was greater than the significant level. The study was ended up with several conclusions on the Organizational Change, and on the COVID-19 significant effects and measures it implied on the banking sector and workplaces, as well as the HR roles in change and crisis management. The study came up with results as well with several recommendations and suggestions for the Banking Sector in Palestine, and for the Human Resources Management and its functions, roles, practices and policies; in addition to suggested future studies. The recommendations state that banks should provide training and learning opportunities for all employees to match changing skills and modernize employment services and contractual agreements; improve working conditions and support teleworking and adopting designs and ergonomic environments; help employees with unforeseen care needs given the COVID-19 pandemic. Banks also need to be in line with the work requirements when change is related to organizational structure, considering VII their strategic plan, and based on recommendations from HRM specialists. The Change management and crisis management should be embodied as an integral part of HRM functions, and HRM needs to embrace its role in being an effective leader and facilitator of change. And the Palestinian labor law should be revisited and modified.