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Human Resource Management: The Promise, the Performance, the Consequences

Author

Listed:
  • Chris Brewster

    (Henley Business School, University of Reading)

  • Paul N Gooderham

    (Department of Strategy and Management, Norwegian School of Economics, Bergen, Norway)

  • Torben Schubert

    (Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (WU-Wien), Austria)

Abstract

Reviewing the trajectory of human resource management research over the last thirty years, this polemical paper argues that the dominant focus has been on 'Strategic HRM' or HRM that is supposed to improve firm performance in some way. It argues that this narrow focus has not only proved disappointing in its own terms but has led to the subject being addressed in a simplistic neo-liberal way that fails to take into account the wider constituency of HRM stakeholders and does not address many of the 'big issues' that these stakeholders face in practice. It calls for a wider and more realistic research agenda.

Suggested Citation

  • Chris Brewster & Paul N Gooderham & Torben Schubert, 2016. "Human Resource Management: The Promise, the Performance, the Consequences," John H Dunning Centre for International Business Discussion Papers jhd-dp2016-07, Henley Business School, University of Reading.
    • Handle: RePEc:rdg:jhdxdp:jhd-dp2016-07
    as

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    File URL: http://www.henley.ac.uk/files/pdf/research/papers-publications/JHD-2016-07_Brewster_et_al.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Randall S. Schuler & Susan E. Jackson, 2005. "A Quarter-Century Review of Human Resource Management in the U.S.: The Growth in Importance of the International Perspective," management revue - Socio-Economic Studies, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, vol. 16(1), pages 11-35.
    2. John Paul Macduffie, 1995. "Human Resource Bundles and Manufacturing Performance: Organizational Logic and Flexible Production Systems in the World Auto Industry," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 48(2), pages 197-221, January.
    3. Chen, Chung-Jen & Huang, Jing-Wen, 2009. "Strategic human resource practices and innovation performance -- The mediating role of knowledge management capacity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 62(1), pages 104-114, January.
    4. Ichniowski, Casey & Shaw, Kathryn & Prennushi, Giovanna, 1997. "The Effects of Human Resource Management Practices on Productivity: A Study of Steel Finishing Lines," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 87(3), pages 291-313, June.
    5. Phillip M Rosenzweig & Nitin Nohria, 1994. "Influences on Human Resource Management Practices in Multinational Corporations," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 25(2), pages 229-251, June.
    6. Randall S. Schuler & Susan E. Jackson, 2005. "A Quarter-Century Review of Human Resource Management in the U.S.: The Growth in Importance of the International Perspective," management revue. Socio-economic Studies, Rainer Hampp Verlag, vol. 16(1), pages 11-35.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zdenka Gyurák Babeľová & Augustín Stareček & Kristína Koltnerová & Dagmar Cagáňová, 2020. "Perceived Organizational Performance in Recruiting and Retaining Employees with Respect to Different Generational Groups of Employees and Sustainable Human Resource Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-23, January.
    2. AbdulQader Al Saiari & Fadilah Puteh & Abdul Jalil Mohamed Ali, 2020. "Assessing Construct Reliability of Human Resources Management Practices (HRM) and Employee Loyalty: A Preliminary Evidence from the Omani Logistic Sector," International Journal of Human Resource Studies, Macrothink Institute, vol. 10(3), pages 2257-2257, December.
    3. Cassar Vincent & Tracz-Krupa Katarzyna & Bezzina Frank & Przytuła Sylwia, 2018. "“The Times they are-A-Changin”: Reconstructing the New Role of the Strategic Hr Manager," Management Sciences. Nauki o Zarządzaniu, Sciendo, vol. 23(3), pages 3-11, September.
    4. AbdulQader Alsaiari & Fadilah Puteh & Abdul Jalil Mohamed Ali, 2020. "Could Demographic Variables Impacting the Relationship Between HRM Practices and Employee Loyalty? A Meta-Analysis Review," Human Resource Research, Macrothink Institute, vol. 4(1), pages 205-232, December.
    5. Ana Teresa Ferreira-Oliveira & José Keating & Isabel Silva, 2020. "Sustainable HRM as a Pathway to Sustainability—HRMS Relevance on Affective Commitment through Organizational Trust," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-27, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    HRM strategy; job satisfaction; sustainable HRM; contextual HRM;
    All these keywords.

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