The HR department's role in organisational performance

Veronica Hope Hailey, Elaine Farndale, Catherine Truss

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

125 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Research into how HR contributes to organisational performance is plentiful yet plagued by challenges. Alongside the ‘black box’ issue between HRM and performance, the time-lag effect and the range of performance indicators applied, the role of the HR department in this relationship is critical although often ignored. A longitudinal case study is presented here that focuses particularly on this issue, and shows a complex picture of improving HR department importance alongside high-level financial performance, but declining employee commitment and morale. The article suggests that the tensions between the rhetoric of HRM strategy, the grim reality of the employee experience and a lack of focus on human capital meant the outstanding financial performance was not sustainable in the longer term. The inherent conflict in serving both management and employees in process-and peopleorientated roles is highlighted.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)49-66
JournalHuman Resource Management Journal
Volume15
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2005

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Organizational performance
Financial performance
Employees
Black box
Human capital
Rhetoric
Performance indicators
Morale
HRM strategy
Employee commitment
Longitudinal case study
Time lag

Cite this

The HR department's role in organisational performance. / Hope Hailey, Veronica; Farndale, Elaine; Truss, Catherine.

In: Human Resource Management Journal, Vol. 15, No. 3, 07.2005, p. 49-66.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

Hope Hailey, V, Farndale, E & Truss, C 2005, 'The HR department's role in organisational performance', Human Resource Management Journal, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 49-66. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-8583.2005.tb00153.x
Hope Hailey V, Farndale E, Truss C. The HR department's role in organisational performance. Human Resource Management Journal. 2005 Jul;15(3):49-66. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-8583.2005.tb00153.x
Hope Hailey, Veronica ; Farndale, Elaine ; Truss, Catherine. / The HR department's role in organisational performance. In: Human Resource Management Journal. 2005 ; Vol. 15, No. 3. pp. 49-66.
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