Hr Management Case

Approaches to the strategic management

of people

There are a number of models of SHRM and in this unit we will look at

three:

• The best practice view.

• The best fit view.

• The resource­based approach.

The best practice view

This view starts from the premise that a single set or ‘bundle' of HR

policies and practices will lead to better organisational performance,

sustained over a lengthy period, whatever the prevailing business

circumstances.

What are these so­called best practices? Various ‘bundles' have been

suggested in research studies (Huselid, 1995; Becker & Gerhart, 1996),

and we would like you to consider one example, the list of eighteen key

practices referred to in the next activity.

CASE STUDY

Read the following article which represents a contemporary view of the best

practice model.

Piece by Piece

by David Guest and Angela Baron, (People Management 20 July 2000)

Evidence showing that it pays to pursue progressive people management

practices continues to mount. After US research findings to this effect came

convincing UK evidence of the link, provided by a University of Sheffield study

of manufacturing companies.

Now, management perceptions of this link are being confirmed by initial

evidence emerging from the first phase of research being carried out for the

CIPD at Birkbeck College, London. The programme is exploring HR

management,