The "Delta Forces" Causing Change in Human Resource Management
I
CHAPTER1
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~. " .,
The "DELTAForces" Causing Change in Human ResourceManagement
Allen 1.Kraut Abraham K. Korman
The world ofwork in which human resource management
(HRM)
operates has changed dramatically in thelast half century. Not surprisingly, therefore, the HRM concepts and practices being created and carried Ollt today are also increasingly different from those of the past. Planners and practitioners who understand this and who also have a way LOanticipate the coming changes and needed HRM a practices of the future will provide thcir organizations Wit11 strate. gic competitive advantage. It is our view that virtually all the changes we see in HRM concepts and practices are in response to changing social, economic, and business environments. We therefore need to understand these influences on our work setting because many of t1lOsefactors that have affected us in the recent past will continue to do so in the future, though perhaps in different ways. By examining these forces, we will be better able to understand what challenges we need to cope with today and those that are likely tomOITOw. In this chapter, we look at the major forces affecting the world of work. We will also layout a framework to help examine them. Although much ofwhat we present can be seen as a description of past events, the framework will also be useful as a blueprint for ~
7if
4
EVOLVING PRACfICES IN HUMAN RESPURCE MANAGEMENT
THE "DELTA
FORCES" CAUSING CHANGE IN HRM
5
periodically doing an environmental "sean" of the forees that are likely to have an impaet in the future.
Exhibít 1.1. The DELTA Forces of Change. on the Human Resource Enviroriment.
""
The Five DELTA Forces
We believe that the signifieant environmental HRM policy and pracúce faIl into five sets: forces influencing ~ ~
·
DemograPhics refers to those aspeets
of the quantity
and quality
· ·
·
of the workforce itself that are determined by birth rates,
CHAPTER1
\
~. " .,
The "DELTAForces" Causing Change in Human ResourceManagement
Allen 1.Kraut Abraham K. Korman
The world ofwork in which human resource management
(HRM)
operates has changed dramatically in thelast half century. Not surprisingly, therefore, the HRM concepts and practices being created and carried Ollt today are also increasingly different from those of the past. Planners and practitioners who understand this and who also have a way LOanticipate the coming changes and needed HRM a practices of the future will provide thcir organizations Wit11 strate. gic competitive advantage. It is our view that virtually all the changes we see in HRM concepts and practices are in response to changing social, economic, and business environments. We therefore need to understand these influences on our work setting because many of t1lOsefactors that have affected us in the recent past will continue to do so in the future, though perhaps in different ways. By examining these forces, we will be better able to understand what challenges we need to cope with today and those that are likely tomOITOw. In this chapter, we look at the major forces affecting the world of work. We will also layout a framework to help examine them. Although much ofwhat we present can be seen as a description of past events, the framework will also be useful as a blueprint for ~
7if
4
EVOLVING PRACfICES IN HUMAN RESPURCE MANAGEMENT
THE "DELTA
FORCES" CAUSING CHANGE IN HRM
5
periodically doing an environmental "sean" of the forees that are likely to have an impaet in the future.
Exhibít 1.1. The DELTA Forces of Change. on the Human Resource Enviroriment.
""
The Five DELTA Forces
We believe that the signifieant environmental HRM policy and pracúce faIl into five sets: forces influencing ~ ~
·
DemograPhics refers to those aspeets
of the quantity
and quality
· ·
·
of the workforce itself that are determined by birth rates,