How symbolic human resource function actions affect the implementation of high‐performance work practices: The mediating effect of influence on strategic decision‐making

ABSTRACT Despite growing evidence of human resource management (HRM)‐performance linkages, the department entrusted to implement high‐performance work practices (HPWP), the human resource (HR) function, is perceived to lack organisational power. Drawing on political perspectives on organisational be...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Human resource management journal Vol. 31; no. 4; pp. 1063 - 1081
Main Authors: Hermans, Michel, Ulrich, Michael D.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Oxford Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2021
Subjects:
Decision making
Employment practices
high‐performance work practices
HPWP
HR department
HR function
Human resource management
influence
Line managers
mediation
multi‐level modelling
Organizational behavior
power
strategic HRM
ISSN:0954-5395, 1748-8583
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:ABSTRACT Despite growing evidence of human resource management (HRM)‐performance linkages, the department entrusted to implement high‐performance work practices (HPWP), the human resource (HR) function, is perceived to lack organisational power. Drawing on political perspectives on organisational behaviour, we argue that the HR function can increase its influence on strategic decision‐making in the organisation by developing symbolic HR function actions such as interacting effectively with directors, involving line managers in HRM, outsourcing and using HR metrics. Next, we explore how HR function influence is associated with implementation of HPWP. Finally, we test whether the mediation mechanism is moderated by industry type within a global sample of 11,780 raters at 409 business units. The findings of this study have important implications for HR professionals who seek to implement HPWP in their organisations. It provides insight into how HR functions can develop and use influence towards increasing line managers' willingness to implement such practices.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 14
ISSN:0954-5395
1748-8583
DOI:10.1111/1748-8583.12361