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RAVINDRA TIWARI
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interpersonal activities is attributed to the increased prominence of intellectual capital
as a management and research topic(James Guthrie,2001).Increasing importance of
this topic is also driving researchers to do more research on HRA. The measurement
and reporting of intellectual capital has recently attracted a growing interest from
accounting researchers, promoting a lively and far-reaching debate.( Robin Roslender,
Robin Fincham,2001).
HRA can not be divorced from HRM. HRA is essential and useful tool of HRM.
Chris Dawson examines The relationship between human resource accounting and
human resource management and try to find out whether HRA is the vehicle which
may bring forward the take over of HRM by the accountancy profession?( Chris
Dawson,1989). In my view HRM and HRA will simultaneously exist because they are
complementary to each other .In fact HRA has been developed so that Human
resource manager may take informed decisions. So these fears are unfounded that
accountancy profession will take over HRM.HRA will help in maturity of HRM.
According to Flamholtz and Eric G. Human resource accounting is a managerial tool
that can be used to gain valuable information by measuring the costs of recruiting,
hiring, compensating and training employees. It can be used to evaluate employee
training programs, increase productivity, and improve managerial decision-making
regarding promotions, transfers, layoffs, replacement and turnover(Flamholtz, Eric G
,1999). Tang Tang In his article, developed a heuristic frame addressing the link
between human resource replacement cost and decision-making (Tang, Tang, 2005).
Management strategies including human resource management have evolved over the
centuries in response to economic and social needs of individuals and organizations
(Nash, Claire Y.; Flesher, Dale L.,2005). HRM must be expressed in financial terms'.
senior management and financial managers' support is important for measuring human
resources (Toulson, Paul K; Dewe, Philip,2004).Researches in HRA should be
speeded up for fast development of HRM. Despite a promising outlook in the 1970s,
it has been claimed that human resource costing and accounting have progressed at
something less than snail’s pace over the past two decades. This is largely due to
difficulties in the application of the concept ( Ulf Johanson,1999) so we can not blame
researchers for slow speed of research works. It is complexities of human resources
which makes concept of HRA tough. Researchers have tried their level best to speed
up work .The work of Leif Edvinsson and Skandia in Sweden is interesting .This
seeks to measures and evaluate "soft " assets which would not normally find their way
into the shareholders annual report.( Edvinsson L. and Malone ,Harper, 1997 ). In
order to show greater progress, more needs to be done at both the theoretical and
practical level, More research into valuation methods and models, and the practical
implication of these, is needed with the engagement of both human resource and
accounting professionals (Shraddha Verma and Philip Dewe).
With the growing emergence of the knowledge economy, traditional valuation
has been called into question due to the recognition that human capital is an
increasingly important part of an enterprise's total value. This has led to two important
questions: how to assess the value of human capital in addition to an enterprise's
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tangible assets and how to improve the development of human capital in enterprises.(
Jens V. Frederiksen,1998) . According to Punita Jasrotia ,While most organisations
can readily give detailed information about their tangible assets like plant and
machinery, land and buildings, transport and office equipment, there is no formal
record of investment in employees. Human assets accounting or human resource
accounting (HRA), which stands for measurement and reporting of the cost and value
of people as organisational resources, is still to become an accepted trend in the Indian
IT industry(Punita Jasrotia,2000). Although academic research on human resource
accounting has been conducted for several decades, specific methods of measuring
HR costs and values still remains largely undeveloped.
According to some authors HRA is somewhat similar to economic discipline.
Human resources is an old field of research in economics, as reflected by accounting
treatments. (Barcons-Vilardell, Carme; Moya-Gutierrez, Soledad, 1999). article by
Kenneth A. Kiase, evaluates the merits of utilizing human resource accounting (HRA)
concepts to account for human resource development (HRD) in the public sector. It
describes the development of the economic theory of human capital and the increasing
recognition of human resources as human assets of public organizations to be
managed and accounted for in a manner similar to capital assets (Kiase, Kenneth
A.,1996).
Different Models Of HRA- Many people pointed out that it is very difficult to
value Human Resources . Since conventional Balance Sheet fails to reflect the value of
Human Asset so it distorts the value of business .In business if any thing is most
important, it is human resource. We see example of many businesses which have been
destroyed or have become insolvent due to uncertainty of environment .In other words
we can say that all conventional assets of business having become worthless, yet
business was revived by exceptional talent of some persons. Auditor certifies in his
report that balance sheet shows true position of business in spite of the fact that it is not
showing the value of human resources .Current world is knowledge based where most
valuable business asset is human being . businesses can be started without single
conventional asset by any talented person on the internet. We need some changes in
traditional accounting in view of these developments .Any field which is not changing
according to need of the world can be out of business .My paper suggests some change
in traditional accounting in view of these requirements.
Different methods has been given for valuation of human resources. Some of these are
1.Behavioral Model
2.Historical Cost Method
3.Replacement cost Method
4.Competitive Bidding Method
5 Standard Cost Method
6 Lev & Schwartz Method
7. Jaggi and Lau Group Valuation Method
In an Indian context, the Lev & Schwartz model has an edge over the other
models, Since the method has been widely adopted by Indian companies such as
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Infosys, DSQ Software Ltd., Satyam Computers, BHEL and SPIC. it enables the
company to benchmark the performance and the efficiency of their human resources
with others. Lev & Schwartz advocated the estimation of future earnings during the
remaining service life of the employee and then arriving at the present value by
discounting the estimated earnings at the cost of capital. The assumptions in this
method are realistic and scientific. The method has practical applicability when
availability of quantifiable and analyzable data is concerned, But this model is unable
to give any method to record the value of human resources in the Books of Accounts.
Arguments in favour of Lev & Schwartz Model-In this model wages and
salaries are taken as surrogate for value of human assets and therefore it provides a
measure of future estimated cost .So this model gives somewhat realistic assessment
of value of human resources. According to economic theory ,the value of an asset to a
firm lies in the rate of return to be derived by the firm from its employment, Lev and
Schwartz model surrogated wages and salaries of the employees for the income to be
derived from their employment. They felt that income generated by the workforce is
very difficult to measure because income is the result of group efforts of all factors of
productions.(ICAI, Final Study Module,2002)
Limitations of Lev & Schwartz Model-Following are some of the limitations
of Lev and Schwartz Model (ICAI, Final Study Module,2002)-
1.This model doesn’t suggest how value of human resource should be recorded in
Books of Accounts .
2.This model takes wages & salary as a basis of value of human resource but value
of human resource is not limited only to the extent of cost incurred on them .It is
different from traditional fixed assets .It has greater value than cost incurred.
3 It ignores the probability that people may make role changes during the career.
For example Assistant Manager will not remain in the same position throughout his
expected service life in an organization.
4.The Model ignores the possibility and probability that individual may leave an
organization for reasons other than death or retirement. The model’s expected value of
human capital is actually a measure of expected ‘conditional value’ of a person’s
human capital-The implicit condition is that the person will remain in organization
until death or retirement. This assumption is not practical.
5.A person’s value to organization is determined not only by the characteristics of
the person himself(as suggested by Lev and Schwartz) but also by the organizational
role in which the individual is utilized. An individual’s knowledge and skill is
valuable only if these are expected to serve as a means to given organizational ends.
Proposed Model-. This model can be broadly categorized for two types of
Employees.
1.Method for employee who are whole sole for organization such as MD ,CEO
etc.
2.Method for employees who are not whole sole for organization .
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Valuation should contain three parts in both methods which are as follows
1 Real Capital Cost part
2.Present value of future salary/wages payments
3.Performance evaluation part
Total value of Human Resource will be total of above three parts.First two part will be
same for both method. Valuation for second part will be according to Lev and
Schwartz method (although method to account for it in books has also been
suggested).Third part is different for both methods and reflects performance (beyond
normal) for that employee. For normal performance first and second part is sufficient.
1. Real Capital cost-All capital cost such as training cost should be capitalized
by entry
Human resource Capital (HRC) Dr
To Cash/Bank
This should be written off equally in estimated service period by entry
P&L A/C DR
To HRC
At the time of leaving/death of employee whole amount should be charged to P&L
A/C
2. Present Value of future salary/wages payment-As already discussed valuation
in this part is similar to Lev and Schwartz model. Only new thing is that journal
entries and method for accounting for it in books have been proposed-
1. At the time of capitalizing value of human resource according to Lev & Schwartz
valuation (whether at the year end or at the during year, whenever we hire human
asset or company want to begin accounting for human asst
HRC A/C Dr
To Human Resource Reserve (HRR) A/C
2. At the time of salary payments
Salary A/C Dr
To Cash
3. At the year end we should calculate HRC value according to Lev & Schwartz
model. Now difference of HRC in books and HRC now calculated shall be debited in
the form of HRR and balance amount should be debited in P& L A/C to close salary
A/C.
HRR A/C Dr
P&L A/C Dr
To Salary A/C
If difference is more than salary then balance should be credited to P&L A/C
4. Now amount debited in HRR should be charged in form of
depreciation/amortization from P&L A/C
P&L A/C Dr
To HRC A/C
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At the time of leaving/death of employee whole amount of HRC should be charged
from P&L A/C and at the same time Whole amount of HRR should be credited to
P&L A/C.
Third part performance evaluation part is different for both methods. This is
obviously due to different performance evaluation criteria between both methods.
Here performance above the normal one has been considered. First and Second part is
sufficient for normal one. This part is as below-
3. Performance Evaluation Part
A. First Method-Method for employee who is wholesale for organization such
as M.D.,CEO etc.-At the end of year classify Sales/Revenue generated into two parts
(I) Normal Revenue
(II) Extra Revenue (which is generated due to extraordinary talent of that
employee)
Calculate Net Profit after all expenses (including CEO/MD remuneration)
attributable to extra sales/turnover/revenue and it should be transferred to Fund for
HRC at some % (say 10 to 15% on this profit). At the same time with the same
amount a capitalization entry should be passed to capitalize Human Resource by
simultaneous transfer to Human Resource adjustment A/C. Human Resource
Adjustment A/C is just like HRR A/C and reflects revaluation of Human Asset on
showing better performance but as this part should not be amortized and should
increase with exhibiting good performance so it has been credited to separate Human
Resource Adjustment A/C. At the time of leaving/death of employee reverse entry
should be passed.
Entry for capitalization of human resource with the same amount will be
HRC A/C DR
To Human Resource Adjustment A/C
In case abnormal losses generate for many years after leaving/death of
Employee these losses can be written off from this fund over these years. Entry will
be
Fund for HRC DR
To P&L A/C
Reverse entry at the time of leaving/death of employee will be
Human Resource Adjustment A/C DR
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To HRC A/C
Amount capitalized in previous year (in this part) should be basis for incentive for
current year.
B. II Method
This is for employees who do routine work and are not whole sole for organization.
If employee has shown any extra performance than normal one then market value of
that extra one should be decided. We should then decide net profit attributable to this
extra one. This should be decided on the basis of % of net profit on sales/revenue and
some % of net profit say 20-30% should be transferred to fund for HRC from P&L
A/C. At the same time with the same amount Human Resource Asset should be
capitalized by debit to HRC A/C and credit to Human Resource Adjustment Account
(This is revaluation of human resource asset on showing better performance). At the
time of leaving/death of employee reverse entry will be passed. Fund for HRC can be
utilized for previous mentioned purposes. Amount capitalized in previous year in this
part should be basis for performance incentive in current year.
Case Study- A Ltd. Wants to begin accounting for human resource. At present
Company has an MD, a manager and a clerk. We assume that company previously has
incurred no capital expenses on human resources but now it intends to send its
employees on training program .Company incurs 10 lacs for MD ,4 lacs for manager
and .5 lacs for clerk for training program .This year sales was 10000 Lacs. It is
estimated that according to general condition of industry 7000 Lacs sales is normal
.Extra sales is due to extraordinary talent and effort of MD. Net Profits on sales
(before debiting P&L for Fund for Human resources) after debiting remuneration for
all employees (including MD) is approximately 20% on Sales. On an average in this
industry MD works in a company for 3 years & other employee works for 6 years
1. First Part-Entry For MD,
HRC A/C DR 1000000
To Bank 1000000
(Being training expenses paid and amount capitalized)
Assumed MD has worked for 1 year so he will work for approx. 2 years .Therefore
provision per year for this expense will be 500000 Rs.
P& L A/C DR 500000
To HRC 500000
(Being training expenses amortized)
Entry for Manager will be
HRC A/C DR 400000
To Bank 400000
(Being training expenses paid and amount capitalized)
Assuming manager has worked for 4 years so he will work for approximately 2
further years. So amortization per year will be 2 Lacs
P&L A/C DR 200000
To HRC 200000
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(Being training expenses amortized)
Entry for clerk will be
HRC A/C 50000
To Bank 50000
(Being training expenses paid and amount capitalized)
Entry for amortization will be (taking same assumption as in case of manager)
P&L A/C 25000
To HRC 25000
(Being training expenses amortized)
2. Second Part- Employee Age
MD 30
Manager 40
Clerk 50
For the sake of simplicity we assume Average Annual Earning for all employee
(including MD) during age 30-39 years- Rs. 3000, during 40-49 years- Rs.4000,
during 50-54 Years- Rs.5000.
We will apply 15% discount factor. Retirement age has been assumed as 55
Years.(Here we are not taking expected service period on the assumption that anyhow
we have to pay salary for replacement also which is generally not low than previous
person)
Age 30 Year
Present Value
Rs 3000 p.a. for next 10 years 15057.00
Rs 4000 p.a. for years 11-20 4960.00
Rs 5000 p.a. for years 21 to 25 1025.00
___________
21042.00
___________
Age 40 Year
Present Value
Rs.4000 p.a. for next 10 years 20076.00
Rs.5000 p.a. for years 11-15 4140.00
_________
24216.00
_________
Age 50 Year
________
Rs 5000 p.a. for next 5 Years 16760.00
________
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Total Value of II part of HRC =21042+24216+16760=62018 Rs
Age 51 Year
_________
Rs.5000 p.a. for 4 years 14275.00
_________
Difference in II part of HRC value between year beginning and end =62018-
57141=4877 Rs
Journal Entries-
1. HRC A/C Dr 62018
To HRR 62018
(Being amount capitalized towards HRC)
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P&L A/C Dr 7123
To Salary 12000
(Being amount of salary charged to HRR and P&L A/C)
Extra sales is 3000 Lacs on which net profit @ 20% will be 600 Lacs. 11% (assumed)
of 600 Lacs will be 66 Lacs
P&L A/C Dr 66
To Fund for HRC 66
(Being amount provided for fund for HRC)
Now simultaneously a capitalization entry for this amount will be passed to record
HRC in Books
HRC A/C Dr 66
To Human Resource Adjustment A/C 66
(Being amount capitalized towards HRC)
This is just like revaluation entry. This capitalization value will be basis for incentive
payment for CEO/MD in next year. I think turnover of CEO/MD will be discouraged
due to this procedure. Second thing, as net profit after CEO/MD computation is being
taken as basis for capitalization so it will not be in overall benefit of CEO/MD to take
very high compensation as his next year compensation will be adversely affected.
Nowadays debate is going on in media over unreasonable high compensation of CEOs
.I think this problem can be solved with this type of incentive payment.
Method for other employees-Assumed market value of normal performance by
manager is manager is 1 Lac and market value of extra performance is .25 lac .Net
profit attributable to this extra performance at the rate 20% is .05 lac of which we are
capitalizing some % say 30%.i.e. we are capitalizing .015 lac .Entry will be
P&L A/C DR 1500
To Fund for HRC 1500
(Being amount provided for fund for HRC)
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HRC A/C DR 1500
To Human Resource Adjustment A/C 1500
(Being amount capitalized towards HRC)
If Market value for normal performance for clerk is 10000 Rs and for extra one it is
5000 Rs. Net profit attributable to this extra one will be @20% will be 1000 Rs of
which we can capitalize some % say 30% which is 300 Rs. So entry will be
P&L A/C DR 300
To Fund for HRC 300
(Being amount provided for fund for HRC)
3. Value of human resources can be ascertained at any time from Balance-Sheet and
value can be decided for each employees.
4. This model also uses valuation principals of Lev and Schwartz Model. So it also
has strong points of that model
6. .It describes the procedure to remove the human resource item from B/S in case
any employee leaves/dies.
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7. It suggest the use of human resource fund so this can not be used for general
business purposes . It can be used only for employee welfare purposes or wiping off
of abnormal losses due to leaving/death of employee , So it contributes to employee
welfare .Natural consequence of this will be increase in employee productivity . In
this sense it also contributes to moral side of accounting.
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Bibliography-
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interests and conflicts”, Cedefop Panorama,A discussion paper Prepared on behalf of
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http://www.cedefop.gr
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954.
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