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Unraveling HRM: Identity, Ceremony, and Control in a Management Consulting Firm

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  • Mats Alvesson

    (Department of Business Administration, Lund University, P.O. Box 7080, S 220 07 Lund, Sweden)

  • Dan Kärreman

    (Department of Business Administration, Lund University, P.O. Box 7080, S 220 07 Lund, Sweden)

Abstract

This paper addresses human resources management (HRM) systems and practices in a large multinational management consultancy firm. The firm invests considerable resources in HRM, and is frequently praised by employees for its accomplishments in hiring, developing, and promotion. However, this general faith in HRM does not align particularly well with employees’ experiences and perceptions of the specific HRM practices in the firm. The paper critically interprets the meaning and the functions of the HRM system and the beliefs supporting it. The paper suggests a reinterpretation of HRM systems and practices based on a cultural-symbolic perspective. It introduces the concepts of excess ceremonialism, identity projects, and aspirational control to highlight and interpret the significance of organizational symbolism in accounting for the role of HRM systems and practices, and the various effects of HRM systems and practices on employee identity and compliance.

Suggested Citation

  • Mats Alvesson & Dan Kärreman, 2007. "Unraveling HRM: Identity, Ceremony, and Control in a Management Consulting Firm," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 18(4), pages 711-723, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:ororsc:v:18:y:2007:i:4:p:711-723
    DOI: 10.1287/orsc.1070.0267
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    4. 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.
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    8. Wee Chan Au & Siân Stephens & Pervaiz K. Ahmed, 2024. "Relational HR Practices in Malaysian SMEs: An Ethics of Care Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 191(2), pages 323-336, May.
    9. Andersson, Thomas & Cäker, Mikael & Tengblad, Stefan & Wickelgren, Mikael, 2019. "Building traits for organizational resilience through balancing organizational structures," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 36-45.
    10. Eun-Suk Lee & Yonjeong Paik, 2023. "Sensemaking About the Organization–Occupation Relationship in Constructing Identification at Work: A Cross-Occupational Approach," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(2), pages 21582440231, May.
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    13. Appleby, Kaitlin & Bullinger, Bernadette & Schneider, Anna, 2018. "STEM selves: Women’s identity projects and their assessment of future employers in technical fields," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 311-325.
    14. Marita Susanna Svane & Sanne Frandsen, 2024. "Formal Ethics, Content Ethics and Relational Ethics: Three Approaches to Constructing Ethical Sales Cultures and Identities in Retail Banking," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 189(2), pages 269-286, January.
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