the roles of Human Resources (HR) are being questioned academically, as well as within organizations. Defining roles that are suitable to this area, given the changes occurring in the global work environment, reveals the problem of positioning HR as a strategic partner in organizations (ULRICH, 1998). Traditionally defined as a task executor, HR has difficulties performing according to the strategic discourse being presented nowadays. This article shows the results of a survey carried out with 264 management students at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil. Its objective is to identify and discuss the Social Representations (GUARESCHI, 2007) of these students as regards the area of HR. Using cluster analysis, clusters of students with different concepts of HR were identified, and it was also shown that most of the students lacked clarity about HR roles and the implications of HR aligned with business strategies.
Strategic HR; HR roles; Social representations; Cluster analysis
