Strategic Integration and Devolvement of Human Resource Management in the UK Manufacturing Sector

Author: Budhwar, Pawan S.

Source: British Journal of Management, Volume 11, Number 4, December 2000 , pp. 285-302(18)

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Abstract:

This paper analyses the practices of `integration' of HRM into the corporate strategy and `devolvement' of responsibility for HRM to line managers in six British manufacturing industries. The findings are based on a questionnaire survey, in-depth interviews and cognitive mapping methodologies. The results show that over 50% of the firms under study practise a high level of strategic integration. On the other hand, over 61% of the sample firms practise a low level of devolvement practices. Interestingly, both the practices of integration of HRM into the corporate strategy and devolvement of HRM to line managers are more determined by a number of organizational policies than traditional contingent variables. The adoption of the mixed methodology has been useful. The findings contribute to strategic HRM literature, and also have some key messages for policy-makers in the field. The cognitive maps developed in the paper could be used to give feedback and training to managers.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.00174

Affiliations: 1: Cardiff Business School, UK

Publication date: 2000-12-01