General systems theory offers one perspective for defining and understanding the problems that organisations face. The author presents a set of systems problem‐solving principles, and offers a procedure which might be useful when conventional problem‐solving has not been totally successful....

Forces of international competition and innovations within organizations have led to the development of employee involvement programmes, including self‐managing work teams. The widespread use of such programmes poses special problems for human resource management. Outlines how the human...

Purpose – Rapid technological changes have turned electronic-human resource management (e-HRM) into a significant academic and managerial agenda. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact that different types of e-HRM goals have on distinct types of e-HRM outcomes and an explanatory...

Because of the volatile business environment, organizations are in a state of unprecedented change, which numerous observers have called chaos. Under current, unstable, perhaps chaotic, conditions, there is a window of opportunity for human resources (HR)/change leader professionals to step up...

Some aspects of change strategy theory as they relate to the introduction of a group work‐measured incentive and maintenance planning scheme for a works engineering department in the heavy manufacturing process industry are set out. Types of change strategy are reviewed briefly, followed by a...

Organisations can become sick, just as people do. A great deal about the nature, diagnosis and treatment of organisational maladies can be learned from a study of how individuals can become mentally ill. The diagnosis and treatment of mental illness is much more advanced than the study of...

Reviews a number of models, discussing the strengths and the weaknesses of each. In every case, the contribution to global competitiveness is highlighted, so that piece by piece, a comprehensive outline of current knowledge is developed. Based on this comprehensive background, a new model is...

Argues that, before rightsizing is considered, human resource management must establish the appropriate human resource plan to give the organization the edge it needs to minimize the upheaval caused by rightsizing and to remain competitive. Rightsizing is inevitably accompanied by changes in the...

Explicit or implicit sets of selection criteria are always used when hiring decisions are made. When employers and job applicants come from similar cultural backgrounds, applicants may better understand what job‐related attributes employers think are important and can develop and stress those...

Purpose – Following Polanyi, this paper aims to suggest that the Industrial Revolution marked a break‐point between pre‐industrial society (characterised by integration) and industrial society (characterised by differentiation). Design/methodology/approach – As a conceptual paper, the...