Human resources are the mighty pillars that form the business colonnade in today's world where a clear upswing in the firm's aim for a distinct competitive advantage is evident. The article discusses the revolutionized state of affairs and its impact on Human Resource Management (HRM), its new role, emerging trends for a more adaptable, and customer-centered HRM. In this turbulent competitive era, staying abreast demands a paradigm shift in Human Resource Development (HRD). Recession is a recent turnaround in the business environment. The article highlights the visible blow of recession on HRD and its approaches to deal with the same. `Human factor' is a mantra for an organization's survival and progress.

Every business, irrespective of its size and type, will have to tackle changes head on. Change is bound to occur. Survival and success may be dependent on the extent to which the organization is able to learn, adapt and change. Rapid changes in the business environment necessitate that organizations create HRM efforts that enhance their employee's adaptive abilities and vitality.

This changing and complex scenario has led to a clear upswing in the firm's aim for a distinct competitive advantage. Here lies the importance of human resources in the organizations. The HRD framework is essential to parallel the needs of this changing environment—to be more adaptable, resilient, quick to change direction and customer-centered. The pressures of emerging opportunities and challenges for the organizations, brought by the change are expected to continue to increase, if not decrease.

These consequences of change and the repercussion yet to be felt in the near future demand a substantial HR strategy to be aligned with the strategies of the organizations.

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