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HRM and Performance: A Plea for Reflexivity in HRM Studies

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  • Maddy Janssens
  • Chris Steyaert

Abstract

abstract In this Counterpoint, we build on Paauwe's suggestions to take the field of HRM and Performance further. Rather than aiming for a synthesis or proposing a radical alternative, we argue that R(econstructive)‐reflexivity is needed for theorizing HRM. In particular, we bring in insights from critical studies on the notion of HRM, on the notion of performance, and on the theoretical relationship between them as a way to open up new research avenues and lines of interpretation. For each of these three aspects, we indicate how studying the employment relationship can be reframed. In particular, we emphasize practice‐oriented research as one possible research path for the field of HRM as it allows for an examination of HRM as a set of practices, embedded in a global economical, political and socio‐cultural context. We end our counterpoint by reflecting on reflexivity, proposing three practices that can guide HRM scholars in becoming reflexive in the ways they study HRM.

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  • Maddy Janssens & Chris Steyaert, 2009. "HRM and Performance: A Plea for Reflexivity in HRM Studies," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(1), pages 143-155, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jomstd:v:46:y:2009:i:1:p:143-155
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6486.2008.00812.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Michelle Greenwood, 2013. "Ethical Analyses of HRM: A Review and Research Agenda," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 114(2), pages 355-366, May.
    2. Barišić, Anton Florijan & Klopotan, Igor & Miloloža, Ivan, 2019. "Human Resources Management: Current Issues," Proceedings of the ENTRENOVA - ENTerprise REsearch InNOVAtion Conference (2019), Rovinj, Croatia, in: Proceedings of the ENTRENOVA - ENTerprise REsearch InNOVAtion Conference, Rovinj, Croatia, 12-14 September 2019, pages 402-413, IRENET - Society for Advancing Innovation and Research in Economy, Zagreb.
    3. Maddy Janssens & Chris Steyaert, 2012. "Towards an Ethical Research Agenda for International HRM: The Possibilities of a Plural Cosmopolitan Framework," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 111(1), pages 61-72, November.
    4. Eline Jammaers, 2023. "Theorizing Discursive Resistance to Organizational Ethics of Care Through a Multi-stakeholder Perspective on Disability Inclusion Practices," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(2), pages 333-345, March.
    5. Fiona Edgar & Alan Geare, 2010. "Characteristics of High- and Low-performing University Departments as Assessed by the New Zealand Performance Based Research Funding (PBRF) Exercise," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 20(1), pages 55-63, March.
    6. Christian Voegtlin & Michelle Greenwood, 2016. "Corporate social responsibility and human resource management: A systematic review and conceptual analysis," Post-Print hal-01481479, HAL.
    7. Luftim CANIA, 2014. "The Impact of Strategic Human Resource Management on Organizational Performance," Economia. Seria Management, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 17(2), pages 373-383, December.
    8. Vakkayil, Jacob & Torre, Edoardo Della & Giangreco, Antonio, 2017. "“It's not how it looks!” Exploring managerial perspectives on employee wellbeing," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 548-562.
    9. Radim MANAK, 2015. "Statistical Evaluation Of Work Performance Factors," International Journal of Entrepreneurial Knowledge, Center for International Scientific Research of VSO and VSPP, vol. 3(1), pages 32-45, June.
    10. Helen Francis & Anne Keegan, 2020. "The Ethics of Engagement in an Age of Austerity: A Paradox Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 593-607, March.
    11. De Prins, Peggy & Van Beirendonck, Lou & De Vos, Ans & Segers, Jesse, 2014. "Sustainable HRM: Bridging theory and practice through the ‘Respect Openness Continuity (ROC)’-model," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 25(4), pages 263-284.
    12. Isabelle Huault & Dan Kärreman & Véronique Perret & André Spicer, 2017. "Introduction to the special issue The evolving debate about critical performativity," Post-Print hal-04053328, HAL.
    13. Tracey Shea & Brian K. Cooper & Helen De Cieri & Cathy Sheehan, 2012. "Evaluation of a perceived organisational performance scale using Rasch model analysis," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 37(3), pages 507-522, December.
    14. Rick Delbridge, 2014. "Promising Futures: CMS, Post-Disciplinarity, and the New Public Social Science," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(1), pages 95-117, January.
    15. Michelle Greenwood & Harry J. Van Buren, 2017. "Ideology in HRM Scholarship: Interrogating the Ideological Performativity of ‘New Unitarism’," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 142(4), pages 663-678, June.
    16. Mingqiong Zhang & David Fan & Cherrie Zhu, 2014. "High-Performance Work Systems, Corporate Social Performance and Employee Outcomes: Exploring the Missing Links," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 120(3), pages 423-435, March.
    17. Matthijs Bal & Andy Brookes, 2022. "How Sustainable Is Human Resource Management Really? An Argument for Radical Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-14, April.
    18. Carl Rhodes & Geraint Harvey, 2012. "Agonism and the Possibilities of Ethics for HRM," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 111(1), pages 49-59, November.
    19. George Kandathil & Jerome Joseph, 2019. "Normative Underpinnings of Direct Employee Participation Studies and Implications for Developing Ethical Reflexivity: A Multidisciplinary Review," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(3), pages 685-697, July.
    20. Jan Willem Nuis & Pascale Peters & Rob Blomme & Henk Kievit, 2021. "Dialogues in Sustainable HRM: Examining and Positioning Intended and Continuous Dialogue in Sustainable HRM Using a Complexity Thinking Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-20, September.
    21. Mine Karatas‐Ozkan & Çağla Özgören & Sibel Yamak & Shahnaz Ibrahim & Melike Nur Tunalıoğlu & Ashly Pinnington & Katerina Nicolopoulou & Yehuda Baruch, 2022. "Dual nature of the relationship between corporate social responsibility and human resource management: A blessing or a curse?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5), pages 1578-1594, September.
    22. Mai Chi Vu & Nicholas Burton, 2024. "Beyond the Inclusion–Exclusion Binary: Right Mindfulness and Its Implications for Perceived Inclusion and Exclusion in the Workplace," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 191(1), pages 147-165, April.
    23. Vijay Kumar Shrotryia & Upasana Dhanda, 2020. "Exploring Employee Engagement Using Grounded Theory: Experiences from the Best Firms in India," Vision, , vol. 24(2), pages 171-183, June.

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