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HR Fundamentals: The Building Blocks of HCM

HR Fundamentals: The Building Blocks of HCM

Instructor: ADP Learning Academy

Included with

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5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

How Human Resource Management (HR) provides the foundation for HCM and defines how HCM differs from traditional HR approaches.
The stages of the employee lifecycle, from recruitment to retirement.
The five functional areas of the HCM framework and their purpose, key activities, and interrelationships.

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There are 5 modules in this course

Upon completing this learning, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of Human Capital Management (HCM) as a strategic method for improving organizational performance. Additionally, you will identify how HCM incorporates several functional areas to support the employee lifecycle.

This lesson introduces Human Capital Management (HCM) and explains how it expands beyond traditional HR to align people practices with business strategy. You will explore the HCM framework, its five functional areas, and why integration and data insights are critical to organizational success. Human Capital Management (HCM) practices vary by country and organization. While some concepts or examples in this course may differ based on local regulations or policies, they are designed to help you understand how core HCM functions work together and the types of considerations organizations commonly address across the employee lifecycle.

What's included

2 videos5 readings1 assignment

2 videosTotal 7 minutes

Introduction to HCM2 minutes
Connecting the Elements5 minutes

5 readingsTotal 12 minutes

HR Fundamentals: The Building Blocks of Human Capital Management1 minute
What is HCM?3 minutes
What is Human Capital?3 minutes
How Data Insights Drive Smarter Workforce Decisions4 minutes
Engaged Employees1 minute

1 assignmentTotal 3 minutes

Check Your Understanding3 minutes

Explore the stages of the employee lifecycle—from recruitment through offboarding or retirement—and how this journey shapes workforce strategy. The lesson shows how organizations can support employees effectively at each stage to improve engagement, productivity, and retention.

What's included

1 video3 readings1 assignment1 plugin

This lesson takes a deeper dive into the five functional areas of HCM: Human Resource Management, Talent Management, Benefits Administration, Time & Attendance, and Payroll. You will examine the purpose of each area, key activities, and how they work together to support the employee lifecycle.

What's included

7 videos20 readings1 assignment1 plugin

7 videosTotal 15 minutes

How HRM Keeps the HCM System Moving1 minute
Three Key Business Processes in Talent Management3 minutes
Benefits Administration2 minutes
Open Enrollment3 minutes
Time & Attendance2 minutes
What are Rounding Rules?1 minute
Payroll at a Glance3 minutes

20 readingsTotal 36 minutes

Functional Areas of HCM1 minute
Human Resource Management (HRM)1 minute
How HRM Connects to Other Functional Areas1 minute
Core HRM Processes2 minutes
Handoff to Talent Management1 minute
Where Employee Data Management Begins2 minutes
Handoff to Benefits Administration1 minute
Benefits Admininstration Process 2 minutes
Benefits Compensation2 minutes
Enrollment Options1 minute
Premium Reconciliation2 minutes
Handoff to Time & Attendance1 minute
Time & Attendance3 minutes
Time Recording Process2 minutes
Handoff to Payroll1 minute
Payroll2 minutes
Essential Responsibilities2 minutes
What Payroll Professional Manage Day to Day5 minutes
Summary2 minutes
Summary2 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 6 minutes

Check Your Understanding6 minutes

1 pluginTotal 5 minutes

Manual versus Automatic Scenario5 minutes

Discover how the five HCM functional areas interconnect to form a cohesive, efficient workforce management system. This lesson highlights how shared data and analytics enable better decision-making, reduce errors, and support organizational strategy.

What's included

4 readings1 assignment1 plugin

This lesson reviews the key concepts covered throughout the course, reinforcing the strategic role of HCM, the employee lifecycle, and functional area integration. You will demonstrate your understanding through a final assessment focused on applying HCM principles in real-world scenarios.

What's included

1 video1 reading

Instructor

ADP Learning Academy

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP)

15 Courses86,528 learners

Offered by

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP)

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Frequently asked questions

This course is designed for anyone looking to build or strengthen their understanding of Human Capital Management, regardless of role or career stage. It’s especially useful if you:

- Are new to HR or HCM concepts

- Work with HR, payroll, benefits, or workforce data

- Want a clearer picture of how people‑related functions connect

- Are interested in building a career in HCM

No prior HCM expertise is required—the course builds from familiar HR concepts and introduces HCM step by step.

In this course, you’ll learn how modern Human Resources practices form the foundation of Human Capital Management (HCM) and how HCM supports the entire employee lifecycle. You’ll explore:

- How HCM differs from traditional HR approaches

- The stages of the employee lifecycle, from recruitment through offboarding/retirement

- The five functional areas of HCM (HRM, Talent Management, Payroll, Benefits Administration, and Time & Attendance)

- How these areas work together as an integrated system to support employees and organizational performance

By the end of the course, you’ll understand how HCM helps organizations manage their workforce more strategically and effectively.

This is a fully accessible, self‑guided Rise course that you can complete at your own pace. The learning experience includes:

- Short readings and videos

- Interactive elements such as labeled graphics, scenarios, and knowledge checks

- Infographics and downloadable reference resources

- A final assessment to reinforce key concepts

The course uses examples from a fictional organization, Blue Helix Technologies, to help you see how HCM concepts show up in real‑world situations.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.