Human Resource Management in a Business Context [Paperback]

Human Resource Management in a Business Context 3rd edition is a comprehensive introductory textbook addressing the needs of business students studying HRM modules on first year courses and beyond. It approaches the theory and practice of people management from a global perspective firmly placing HRM within a wider business context. This delivers a highly accessible introduction to the subject for students approaching HRM from a range of business-related disciplines. The textbook has a truly international outlook with extensive real-life material from the UK, US, Canada and Australia throughout the book illustrating the practical application of key HRM concepts. This edition includes greater coverage of international HRM, diversity and organizational culture, and highlights HRM ‘hot topics’ including outsourcing, the aging workforce, and the psychological contract.

This book is intended to provide a comprehensive account of the critical issues in Human Resource Management (HRM), taking the reader from an introductory level to a relatively sophisticated understanding of an increasingly important business topic. We will see that there is no universal agreement on the meaning of HRM. In fact, there are varying and contradictory models. Yet they embody common elements that distinguish them from previous approaches to managing people – specifically, personnel management. The book takes a distinctive approach, locating the subject of human resource management and its various perspectives within a business context. We recognize that readers will come from a variety of backgrounds, that some will become HR specialists but that many are interested in the relationship between human resource management and other business functions. This is not a ‘cookbook’ of best practices: it is firmly focused on human resource management in the real world. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Alan Price is the author of several books and distance learning texts on Human Resource Management. He is Managing Editor of the HRM Guide network. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.