Breaking off from local bounds: human resource management practices of national players in the BRIC countries

Abstract

Automobile manufacturers from the BRIC countries have upgraded their products and increasingly compete with companies from industrialised countries. In regard to HRM they face, however, the dilemma whether to continue their established local practices or to implement global standard production systems and ‘best practice’ HRM concepts. Based on case studies of automobile manufacturers from the BRICs, this article analyses the strategic choices of the companies regarding production systems and HRM. The companies show a surprisingly high readiness to break with local traditions and to adapt global standard production systems. The requirements of lean manufacturing and of new production technologies lead to new skill formation, elite formation and attitude formation practices in the companies.