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Human Resource Management in a Business Context, 3rd edition by Alan Price
Human Resource Management in a Business Context provides an international focus on the theory and practice
of people management. A thorough and comprehensive overview of all the key aspects of HRM, including articles from HRM Guide and other sources,
key concepts, review questions and case studies for discussion and analysis.
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Identifying the relationship between HRM and strategy is
simpler in theory than in practice. Frequently, Strategic HR is a matter of rhetoric. Organizations
may take a variety of approaches towards HR and strategy, ranging from those which give no
consideration whatsoever to human resurce issues to some where HR becomes the driving force.
(...) Most typically, HRM is focused on certain strategic sub-goals, described as 'second-order'
by Purcell. (...) see pages 297-298 of Human Resource Management in a Business Context (pages 161-163 in the first edition).
(...)Human resource strategies are derived from overall business objectives in the same way as investment
or marketing strategies. We noted in the last section that commitment is seen to be particularly crucial for
competitive advantage. For true commitment to occur, conventional management wisdom sees the need for employees to accept and believe
in an organization's goals. (Pages 298-302 of Human Resource Management in a Business Context are concerned with mission statements
and first-order strategies using Ford and Nissan UK as case studies - pages 163-165 in the 1st edition, Nissan UK only ).
Extra detail: These goals (like any other objectives) need to be expressed
in quantifiable terms so that outcomes can be measured. However, strategic HR objectives go
beyond the simplistic calculation and control of staff numbers and minimisation of costs.
Strategic thinking also incorporates ethical and legal considerations which have complex
implications on the achievement of a wide range of business objectives:
* Equity - applicants and employees should be treated fairly and justly, so that there are
no grounds for complaint or bad publicity.
* Consideration - individual circumstances and wishes should be allowed for when taking
strategic decisions which affect the security, prospects and self-respect of employees.
* Commitment and motivation - staff tend not to be committed to organisations which are not
committed to them.
* Working conditions - safe, healthy and pleasant conditions enhance well-being, minimise
stress and improve efficiency.
Many managers make the mistake of assuming that the action they take in a particular
situation has no consequences outside that set of circumstances. Businesses have customers on
which they depend for their existence. Employers, their friends, relatives and neighbours may
be customers. Any impression of an organisation, conveyed by satisfied or dissatisfied
employees, can spread by word of mouth and impact on sales. In some circumstances word may
reach the media, with massive consequences on a company's public standing.
Convincing the CEO that a strategic partnership with HR is crucial to the future success
of the business is one of the toughest challenges facing HR practitioners.
Strategy formation
(...)Coherent
strategies and integrated practices sound fine in theory but how are they to be translated into
action? This 'surface neatness' hides an organizational reality which is far from simple.
Mintzberg argues that the strategies which are actually carried through into practice include
an unintended element which he terms 'emergent strategies'. This might result from poor
strategic thinking, poor implementation or a sound state of realism. It reflects the view that
strategic management should not be confined to the top layers in an organization. Emergent
strategy rarely comes from the centre, but rather from bright ideas and initiatives at a local
level which were unprecicted but were found to work and then adopted widely (This can be
deliberate and organized through a process of internal benchmarking).
Other aspects of strategy involve people making decisions about capital equipment, finance or marketing; HR strategy requires people to make decisions
about themselves. (...) However, it is a deadly serious game, with people's careers and livelihoods at stake. The reality is that faced with a choice between
profit and the wellbeing of employees most commercial organizations will select the former. 'Softer' human resource issues continue to be secondary and subordinate
to financial matters.
HR Directors are now starting to follow common practice in other business functions
- measurng input costs, establish ongoing performance metrics, and building business cases for
new initiatives.
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