In search of balance – managing the dualities of HRM: an overview of the issues

Paul Boselie · Chris J. Brewster · Jaap Paauwe

123 citations0/0 files storedPersonnel Review

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Human Resource and Talent Management Management and Organizational Studies Global and Cross-Cultural Management

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the human resource management (HRM) literature that builds up to our current concern with dualities, paradoxes, ambiguities, and balance issues; and to introduce the six papers in this special issue on managing the dualities in HRM. Design/methodology/approach The paper presents a literature review taking a historical look at the development of the HR field up to the present awareness of the complexity of the concept and practice of HRM. Findings Almost 30 years on, is being found now increasing evidence of the dualities, paradoxes, and ambiguities entailed in HRM. Research limitations/implications The literature review starts with the personnel management (PM)‐HRM and industrial relations‐HRM debates in the 1980s. Earlier work on traditional PM is not debated in this paper. Practical implications After reading this general review practitioners might gain more insights in the potential tensions, ambiguities, and conflicts of interest that are characteristic for the field of HRM in practice. Originality/value First, this paper highlights the interest of the pluralist perspective in contrast to the dominating unitarist approaches in contemporary human resource studies. Second, this overview presents methodological challenges for example, with regard to multi‐level and multi‐actor research. Finally, the paper presents alternative theories for future research including new institutionalism, strategic balance theory, and health psychology theories.

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References

2004Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage 2004The iron cage revisited institutional isomorphism and collective rationality in organizational fields 2010Strategic management a stakeholder approach 2017Exchange and Power in Social Life 1985Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance 1995THE IMPACT OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON TURNOVER, PRODUCTIVITY, AND CORPORATE FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE.1995Human Resource Bundles and Manufacturing Performance: Organizational Logic and Flexible Production Systems in the World Auto Industry 1995Psychological Contracts in Organizations: Understanding Written and Unwritten Agreements

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