Role of Human Resources Strategic Planning in Building Intellectual Capital in the Northern West Bank Municipalities

Abstract

This study aims to explore the role of human resources strategic planning in building intellectual capital in the northern West Bank municipalities. To accomplish this study، the researcher used the analytical descriptive approach due to its suitability to the nature of the study. The questionnaire was designed as a main tool for collecting primary data، as the study population consisted of all administrative employees (751) working in the northern West Bank municipalities. The study sample was selected using a random sample method to be representative of the study population. After conducting the validity and reliability process، the researcher distributed (260) questionnaires، of which (250) questionnaires were returned back and (9) questionnaires were excluded due to the lack of seriousness of the answers. Consequently، the final number valid for analysis was 241 questionnaires، which were analyzed using the statistical analysis package (SPSS). Furthermore، a number of statistical tests were used such as the arithmetic means، standard deviations and percentages، Pearson's correlation coefficient test، Cronbach's alpha equation، one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA)، and multiple linear regression analysis test. After testing the hypotheses، the study concluded several results، most important of which are the following: 1. A direct relationship between strategic planning and intellectual capital exists، meaning that the higher the strategic planning of human resources، the higher the intellectual capital in the northern West Bank municipalities، and vice versa. 2. Lack of knowledge of the importance of human resources strategic planning and lack of clarity of this term in the northern West Bank municipalities. 3. There are statistically significant differences at the level of significance (α≤05.0) between the averages of the sample respondents’ answers regarding human resources strategic planning (vision، mission، objectives، and environment analysis) in the targeted municipalities according to the variables (age، academic qualifications، years of service، job title). 4. Statistically significant differences exist at the level of significance (α≤05.0) between the averages of the respondents’ answers regarding building intellectual capital (human، relational، structural) in the targeted municipalities according to the variables (sex، age، years of service، job title).

In light of the study findings، the researcher recommended the following: 1. The human resources departments in the municipalities should involve the employees in setting their strategic objectives through holding workshops with the middle and higher managements. 2. It is necessary that the organizational structure of the human resources departments in the municipalities to take into consideration the fair distribution of tasks and responsibilities. 3. Organizing specialized training courses on strategic planning for the employees with special focus on the administrate staff.