Human Resource Strategies

"Those interested in the development and in an actual state of the art of HRM in the U.S., can gain insight from Beaumont's brilliant and critical review of the American HRM Literature. Argyris' hypothesis on the skilled incompetence of managers is highly noteworthy." --Management International Review "A very useful reader . . . which is intended for students. It combines readability with utility. . . . This volume commendably tries to approach HRM from the standpoint of 'organization theory' and in doing so focuses on strategies and structures in ways that are both insightful and interesting." --Journal of General Management "It will prove to be of value to researchers and practitioners as well as to students following Masters' courses in management. . . . The editors have produced more than a mere collection of articles: they have brought together an up-to-date, varied, and representative sequence of contributions, linked together by brief and thoughtful introductions to each section. Thus the individual articles are integrated into a coherent . . . survey of the field. . . . Its use as a reference text is helped by a good subject index. . . . Every chapter has something of importance to say to the public sector manager, and this volume should be read by senior staff . . . in colleges and--dare I say it--in the newly-designated universities." --The Vocational Aspect of Education "Provides a series of papers on HRM in general, making detailed examination of strategies structural, cultural and personal. Both theoretical and practical examination of the issues makes for a fascinating review of the field." --Journal of the Institute of Health Education Firmly `on the agenda' for managers in the 1990s and beyond, human resource management (HRM) is finally getting its due: it's now recognized as being inextricably bound up in an organization's overall success. This volume brings together a wide range of outstanding contributions to the field which explore both the advantages and complexities of a strategic approach to HRM. Deliberately broad in scope, Human Resource Strategies addresses several key themes and debates, including an examination of the limiting assumptions which underpin the current dominant HRM practices; a discussion of the contradictions that may arise between a highly competitive business environment and long-term, integrated human resource policies; and examples of how effective HRM strategies can lead to improved competitive performance. Also, the book considers at length three core areas inevitably implicated in and impacted by HRM--organizational structure, culture and personnel strategies. Making an important contribution to understanding HRM issues and perhaps even shaping the agenda, Human Resource Strategies offers a fascinating review of this crucial topic and will be invaluable reading for managers and students of management alike.