aligning human resources management with corporate culture

Executive Summary

1.     Aligning Human Resource (HR) practices with cultural goals is crucial for succeeding with a change effort; this belief is all commentators interviewed here.

2.     When changing HR practices, organizations must address the legitimate employee concern 'what's in it for me'.

3.     The HR function can play an enabling role in driving corporate change. However the function must be business- and customer-focused.

4.     Linked to the above, research has found that devolving responsibility for the corporate culture to the HR function does not often lead to success with a culture change effort.

5.     Research by Harvard Business School has also found that companies that value their employees perform significantly better than those who do not. However, another piece of research has found that companies are not presently meeting employee needs.

6.     How to create culturally reinforcing practices in recruitment, performance appraisal, career development, recognition and incentives, and compensation mechanisms are explored in detail – and each area contains its own challenges.

7.     Linked to the above, HR practices should reinforce each other as well as the new culture.

8.     A case study on Hyundai Car (UK) Ltd, demonstrates best practice, along with case reports on Western Provident Association, Transco and Yorkshire Water.

If you are a subscriber, click here to read the full briefing.

Click here to find out how to subscribe.