HR Acronyms

HR acronyms are abbreviations dealing with the human resources of a company.  The word “acronym” is misused and often refers to initialisms, which are the first letters of each important word in a title. An acronym is a special initialism in that the letters make a new word.  For the purposes of this article, “acronym” and “initialism” will be treated synonymously.

Human Resources

The term “Human Resources” is a blanket term which stands for the people in an organization and anything associated with them. Most companies have a strategy, which consists of policies and procedures, for managing human resources to get the most out of their employees. Some of the areas included in Human Resources are: hiring, firing, training, safety, employee evaluations, relations between the company and its employees, salaries and benefits, and the organization of the overall workforce.  

In the early 1900s, there was a trend to treat workers in a more psychological way and to be more concerned with their welfare. Concern with Human Resources grew in the mid-1900s as large corporations incorporated training and development techniques used in the military. Soon, large corporations had a whole department dedicated to managing human resources and the abbreviation HR became commonplace.   

HR Acronyms

Here are a few real HR acronyms, meaning the letters make up another word.  Notice that sometimes the first two or three letters of a word will be included so the abbreviation makes a word.

• BEER: Behavior, Effect, Expectation, Results (for feedback for improvement)
• BET: Behavior, Effect, Thanks (for positive feedback)
• CAUSED: Can they do it, do they have a positive Attitude, is it Useful to them, are they Skilled in it, do they have similar Experience, is it Different.
• DUMBER: Dull, Unrealistic, Mediocre, Boring, Evaporating, Rote
• ERIC: Educational Resources Information Center
• FAT: Final Acceptance Testing
• IDEAL: Identify the problem, Define and represent the problem, Explore possible strategies, Act on the strategies, Look back and evaluate the effects of your actions
• KISS: Keep It Simple Stupid
• MOP: Measure Of Performance
• PERT: Project Evaluation and Review Technique
• PIP: Programmed Instructional Package
• PLATO: Programmed Logic for Automated Teaching Operations
• SAT: Systems Approach to Training
• SMARTER: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Timely, Exciting, Recorded
• STRAP: System Training Plan
• TEA: Training Effectiveness Analysis
• TEE: Training Effectiveness Evaluation
• TRADE: Training Devices
• YOYO: You're On Your Own

Human Resources Acronyms for Testing

Following are HR acronyms used for training and testing:          

• BST: Basic Skills Trainer
• CAI: Computer Assisted Instruction
• CAT: Computer Aided Testing
• CBI: Computer Based Instruction
• CBL: Computer Assisted Learning
• CBT: Computer Based Training or Competency Based Training
• CETA: Cost Effective Training Analysis
• CMI: Computer Managed Instruction
• DT&E: Developmental Test and Evaluation
• DTP: Detailed Test Plan
• ECR: Electronic Classroom
• FOJT: Formal On-the-Job Training
• FTX: Field Training Exercise
• GTA: Graphical Training Aid
• ICW: Interactive Courseware
• IKPT: Instructor and Key Personnel Training
• IMI: Interactive Multimedia Instruction
• ITP: Individual Training Plan
• ITS: Integrated Training System or Individual Training Standard
• LMS: Learning Management System
• OJT: On-the-Job Training
• POI: Program of Instruction
• PSI: Personalized System of Instruction
• SQT: Skills Qualification Test
• T&D: Training and Development
• TEEP: Training Effectiveness Evaluation Plan
• TEMP: Test and Evaluation Master Plan
• TWI: Training Within Industry
• WBI: Web Based Instruction

Lastly, here are some HR acronyms that refer to Human Resources departments and personnel: 

• AAR: After Action Review
• HF: Human Factors
• HFE: Human Factors Engineering
• HPT: Human Performance Technology
• HR: Human Resources
• HRD: Human Resource Development
• HRM: Human Resource Management
• HUMINT: Human Intelligence
• I&D: Integration and Development
• IP: Interpersonal
• PA: Performance Assessment
• PPM: Policy and Procedures Manual
• QAR: Quality Assurance Evaluator
• RBM: Rational Behavioral Model
• SIMTECH: Simulation Technology
• TRD: Technical Requirements Document

HR Department Goals and Responsibilities

The HR department of a company has a responsibility to improve the business environment. It needs to monitor the changes in demographics of the workers as that could affect benefits and pensions. Also, the different kinds of employees need to be known, such as age and gender. 

As the company needs employees with more skills, the HR department needs to attract highly qualified applicants for job openings with incentives and good pay.  Along with this, the HR department needs to continue to train and educate employees so they will be more valuable to the company and more efficient at their jobs.