Factors that Shape the Human Resource Architecture in the Australian Business Environment : The Delphi Technique

A model of human resource architecture is a framework by which to distinguish employees in order to design human resource support processes. Organizations engaging in multiple sourcing modes are likely to require distinct configurations of human resource practices that facilitate the utilization and deployment of human capital for each separate employment mode. This paper applied the theoretical American human resource architecture model developed by Lepak and Snell (1999) into the Australian business environment. The Lepak and Snell model proposed that within organizations, considerable variance exists with regard to both the uniqueness and value of skills. Juxtaposing these two dimensions, they built a (2 x 2) matrix describing different combinations with their corresponding employment relationships and human resource systems. Using the Delphi Technique, this study was able to identify five key factors in the Australian business environment that were not present in the American model. They included 1) strategic focus of the organization, 2) organizational structure, 3) competitiveness of the industry, 4) type of industry and the type of worker included in the organization