Strategic human resource management: a conceptual approach

TLDR

International interest in strategic human resource management is rapidly expanding. The paper addresses conceptual issues in strategic human resource management, explores broader debate topics, and summarizes key research questions and a model to address existing weaknesses. The authors analyze progress in defining SHRM, review major models, highlight essential variables and interrelationships, critically assess literature contributions, propose a new SHRM process model, and suggest its use for empirical research. Strategic human resource management.

Abstract

In this paper conceptual issues associated with strategic human resource management are addressed. The rapidly expanding international interest in strategic human resource management is first highlighted. The article then explores some of the broader issues around the debate on SHRM that can inform thinking at a macro level. Firstly, the progress made towards understanding the meaning of SHRM is analysed, then a brief overview of the major models of SHRM to date is presented. This overview is used to highlight the key variables and interrelationships that need to be included in a model of SHRM, and a more detailed critical analysis of the contribution of the literature in each of these areas follows. A summary of the most important research questions arising out of the literature is followed by a model of the SHRM process, which attempts to remedy the major weaknesses in existing models of SHRM. The ways in which this model may be used as a basis for empirical research are then noted. Strategic human resource management