Specific HR Strategy
Summary

Human resource management (HRM) is an integral part of organizational operations with greater impacts on financial performance. Modern HR strategies and practices have evolved to incorporate strategic HRM. HR strategies are divided into two categories: general HR strategies and specific HR strategies. General strategies in HR practices focus on high commitment, high involvement, and high-performance management. On the contrary, specific HR strategies focus on what the organization sets to do in relation to its HRM policies and practices. Business organizations are increasingly establishing specific HR strategies to enhance their competitive advantage and performance. Specific HR strategies differ from general strategies as they are based on the unique aspects of an organization’s operations.

An example of a specific HR strategy is IRM’s HR strategy, which reflects the general aspirations and intentions of the company. The HR strategy reflects four key areas of its overall business strategy: business value, innovation, global integration, and on-demand infrastructure. The goals of IBM’s HR Strategy include to lead transformation, anticipate and build skills, and grow the company. IBM seeks to achieve its HR strategy through leadership, performance-based opportunities, flexibility, creating a value-based culture, and hiring a diverse and talented workforce. IBM’s HR strategy is based on the matching or contingency approach to HR strategies and practices. Based on this approach, the HR strategy seeks to create a fit between competitive strategy and internal strategies for HRM. As evident in IBM’s case, the specific HR strategy based on a matching or contingency approach promotes vertical integration and horizontal integration. Vertical integration focuses on promoting the alignment between business strategy and HR strategy. On the other hand, horizontal integration ensures HR goals are linked to individual HR policy areas.

Specific HR Strategy

Human resource management (HRM) is an important part of organizational operations and has a greater impact on firm performance. Human Resource (HR) practices have evolved to adopt a strategic approach from its conventional focus on individual and organizational effectiveness. According to Richard & Johnson (2001), the current focus of human resource management is critical to the strategic processes of an organization as HR activities contribute to profitability rather than a cost of production. This implies that strategic HRM is essential in enhancing firm profitability in the increasingly competitive modern business environment. As a result, organizations are increasingly establishing HR strategies that seek to enhance employee productivity and financial performance while lessening employee turnover. This paper examines a specific HR strategy employed by organizations to enhance their productivity and performance.

Strategic Human Resource Management

Human capital is regarded as one of the critical constructs across various disciplines ranging from psychology to economics. Existing literature on strategy and HRM shows a significant link between human capital and organizational performance (Boon et al., 2017). Given the link between these two constructs, studies have been carried out to assess different aspects and levels of human capital in different organizations. The value of human capital to organizations is usually examined from a strategic or...…as the contingency approach, seeks to create a fit between competitive strategy and internal strategies for HRM. In this regard, the business strategy acts as a competitive strategy that guides the company’s HR strategy and practices. Elements of the HR strategy are designed to promote a fit between its competitiveness and human resource practices. This specific HR strategy effectively combines vertical integration and horizontal integration.

In relation to vertical integration, the organization’s HR strategy is aligned to the business strategy. To avoid being reactive, the organization has ensured that its corporate strategy is the premise for both HR and business strategies. As a result, the company’s HR strategy is not subservient to product-market logic. On the contrary, horizontal integration through ensuring HR goals are linked to individual HR policy areas. Therefore, HR practices do not conflict with existing policy areas and ensure effective people management.

In conclusion, HRM is an important part of the operations of an organization as it relates to people management and influences financial performance and success. As the modern business environment is becoming more competitive, organizations are adopting strategic measures for HR practices. Business organizations develop and utilize specific HR strategies to improve their competitive edge and performance. IBM is an example of a company that has adopted a specific HR strategy. As evident in the firm’s case, a specific HR strategy incorporates different aspects and approaches. A matching/contingency approach is one of the frameworks used for such strategies since it promotes vertical and horizontal integration.