IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eme/ijmpps/v32y2011i4p394-409.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

HRM and the use of personnel services: an empirical analysis of German firms

Author

Listed:
  • Dorothea Alewell
  • Sven Hauff
  • Katrin Weiland
  • Kirsten Thommes

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to analyse how characteristics of the HR department and HR work, which relate to resource availability and resource needs, influence HR outsourcing. The study examines the subject of human resource (HR) outsourcing. Design/methodology/approach - The potential influence of firms' characteristics on HR outsourcing is analysed theoretically and empirically. The dataset (n=1,021) covers a broad spectrum of personnel services and is based on computer‐aided telephone interviews with chief executives and human resource managers of German firms. Findings - Generally, we find that firm size and previous reorganization activities significantly raise the probability of an HR outsourcing. In contrast, there is no overall significant influence of central characteristics of HR work or the HR department on HR outsourcing in general. Originality/value - Although there is a trend toward the outsourcing of work, little research is being done on the relationship between the expected effects of outsourcing, the make‐or‐buy decision of decision makers, and the firm's characteristics themselves. This study sheds some more light on the relationship between HR outsourcing and firms' characteristics and finds some interesting relationships.

Suggested Citation

  • Dorothea Alewell & Sven Hauff & Katrin Weiland & Kirsten Thommes, 2011. "HRM and the use of personnel services: an empirical analysis of German firms," International Journal of Manpower, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 32(4), pages 394-409, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:ijmpps:v:32:y:2011:i:4:p:394-409
    DOI: 10.1108/01437721111148522
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/01437721111148522/full/html?utm_source=repec&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=repec
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers
    File URL: https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/01437721111148522/full/pdf?utm_source=repec&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=repec
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1108/01437721111148522?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Arnold Picot, 1998. "Die grenzenlose Unternehmung," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 51(34), pages 44-55, October.
    2. Kakabadse, Andrew & Kakabadse, Nada, 2002. "Trends in Outsourcing:: Contrasting USA and Europe," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 189-198, April.
    3. Jérôme Barthélemy & Bertrand V. Quélin, 2006. "Complexity of Outsourcing Contracts and Ex Post Transaction Costs: An Empirical Investigation," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(8), pages 1775-1797, December.
    4. Arnold Picot, 1998. "Die grenzenlose Unternehmung," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 51(34-35), pages 44-55, October.
    5. Claude Menard & Mary M. Shirley (ed.), 2005. "Handbook of New Institutional Economics," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-0-387-25092-2, January.
    6. Oliver E. Williamson & Michael L. Wachter & Jeffrey E. Harris, 1975. "Understanding the Employment Relation: The Analysis of Idiosyncratic Exchange," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 6(1), pages 250-278, Spring.
    7. Gary S. Becker, 1975. "Human Capital: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis, with Special Reference to Education, Second Edition," NBER Books, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc, number beck75-1.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Hasliza Abdul Halim & Noor Hazlina Ahmad & Theresa C. F. Ho & T. Ramayah, 2017. "The Outsourcing Dilemma on Decision to Outsource Among Small and Medium Enterprises in Malaysia," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 18(2), pages 348-364, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Höckels, Astrid, 2000. "Möglichkeiten zur Absicherung von Humankapitalinvestitionen zur Vermeidung unerwünschter Mitarbeiterfluktuationen," Arbeitspapiere 20, University of Münster, Institute for Cooperatives.
    2. Dorothea Alewell & Katrin Baehring & Anne Canis & Sven Hauff & Kirsten Thommes, 2007. "Outsourcing HR Functions. Development of an Explanatory Approach to Firms' (Non-Existent) Demand for Personnel Services," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 18(3), pages 271-292.
    3. Markus Solf, 2004. "Unternehmenskooperationen als Folge von Informations- und Kommunikations-technologieveränderungen: Eine theoretische Analyse," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 146-167, March.
    4. William Bentley MacLeod & Daniel Parent, 1998. "Job Characteristics and the Form of Compensation," CIRANO Working Papers 98s-08, CIRANO.
    5. Wagner, Stefan, 2006. "Make-or-Buy Decisions in Patent Related Services," Discussion Papers in Business Administration 1264, University of Munich, Munich School of Management.
    6. Eymann, Torsten (Ed.), 2009. "Tagungsband zum Doctoral Consortium der WI 2009 [WI2009 Doctoral Consortium Proceedings]," Bayreuth Reports on Information Systems Management 40, University of Bayreuth, Chair of Information Systems Management.
    7. Albers, Sönke & Bisping, Dirk & Teichmann, Kai & Wolf, Joachim, 2002. "Management virtueller Unternehmen," Manuskripte aus den Instituten für Betriebswirtschaftslehre der Universität Kiel 558, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Institut für Betriebswirtschaftslehre.
    8. Fritz Sager & Adrian Ritz & Kristina Bussmann, 2010. "Utilization-focused performance reporting," Public Money & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(1), pages 55-62, January.
    9. Göthlich, Stephan E., 2003. "From loosely coupled systems to collaborative business ecosystems," Manuskripte aus den Instituten für Betriebswirtschaftslehre der Universität Kiel 573, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Institut für Betriebswirtschaftslehre.
    10. Bonus, Holger & Greve, Rolf & Kring, Thorn & Polster, Dirk, 1999. "Der genossenschaftliche Finanzverbund als Strategisches Netzwerk: Neue Wege zur Kleinheit," Arbeitspapiere 16, University of Münster, Institute for Cooperatives.
    11. Patricia Everaert & Gerrit Sarens & Jan Rommel, 2010. "Using Transaction Cost Economics to explain outsourcing of accounting," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 35(1), pages 93-112, July.
    12. Brockhoff, Klaus, 1998. "Innovationsmanagement als Technologiemanagement: Vortrag vor der Kommission "Technologie- und Innovationsmanagement" im Verband der Hochschullehrer für Betriebswirtschaft, Kiel, 2. November ," Manuskripte aus den Instituten für Betriebswirtschaftslehre der Universität Kiel 492, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Institut für Betriebswirtschaftslehre.
    13. Limbach, Felix & Wulf, Jochen & Zarnekow, Rüdiger & Düser, Michael, 2011. "A typology of cooperation strategies in the telecommunication industry: An exploratory analysis and theoretical foundations," 22nd European Regional ITS Conference, Budapest 2011: Innovative ICT Applications - Emerging Regulatory, Economic and Policy Issues 52177, International Telecommunications Society (ITS).
    14. Becker, Jörg & Beverungen, Daniel & Knackstedt, Ralf & Matzner, Martin & Müller, Oliver & Pöppelbuß, Jens, 2011. "Flexible Informationssystem-Architekturen für hybride Wertschöpfungsnetzwerke (Flexnet): Forschungsprojekt im Rahmen der BMBF-Fördermaßnahme Integration von Produktion und Dienstleistung," Arbeitsberichte des Instituts für Wirtschaftsinformatik 130, University of Münster, Department of Information Systems.
    15. Söllner, Matthias, 2008. "Menschliches Verhalten in elektronischen Märkten," Bayreuth Reports on Information Systems Management 34, University of Bayreuth, Chair of Information Systems Management.
    16. Müller, Hans-Erich & Martin, Annette, 2000. "Beschäftigen statt entlassen: Instrumente des Beschäftigungs-Managements mit Fallstudien aus der Energieversorgung," Study / edition der Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, Hans-Böckler-Stiftung, Düsseldorf, volume 29, number 29, March.
    17. Codruta Bolboaca, "undated". "Cooperation Strategies For Logistics Service Providers In The Art Transportation Market," Description: Managerial Challenges of the Contemporary Society 4, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Babes-Bolyai University.
    18. Schweinsberg, Andrea, 2004. "Organisatorische Flexibilität als Antwort auf die Globalisierung," Arbeitspapiere 46, University of Münster, Institute for Cooperatives.
    19. Beckmann, V., 1999. "Informationen und Transaktionskostenökonomik: Zur Frage der Organisation des Transfers von Informationen in Märkten und Unternehmen," Proceedings “Schriften der Gesellschaft für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften des Landbaues e.V.”, German Association of Agricultural Economists (GEWISOLA), vol. 35.
    20. Roth, Steffen, 2006. "How many networks are we to manage?," Papers and Preprints of the Department of Innovation Research and Sustainable Resource Management 1/2006, Chemnitz University of Technology, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eme:ijmpps:v:32:y:2011:i:4:p:394-409. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Emerald Support (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.