The Firm and Strategic Human Resource Management Essay

The Firm and Strategic Human Resource Management - Essay Example In order to function efficiently and effectively, people must be managed well. Human resources management (HRM) is the art and science of dealing with people at work for the optimum achievement of individual, organization and society’s goals. While general management is the orchestration of all the resources, human resource management is limited to people management – their motivation, acquisition, maintenance and development. Strategic human resources management (SHRM) is defined by Boxall & Purcell (2003) as â€Å"concerned with explaining how HRM influences organisational performance. They also point out that strategy is not the same as strategic plans. Strategic planning is the formal process that takes place, usually in larger organisations, defining how things will be done. However strategy exists in all organisations even though it may not be written down and articulated. It defines the organisation’s behaviour and how it tries to cope with its environmen t.† Boxall & Purcell have been intrigued by theories and applications of SHRM that they have written several discourses on the subject including the article entitled Strategic Human Resource Management: Where have we come from and where should we be going? In this regard, this essay aims to present a brief synopsis of the paper to outline the content and to identify the nature of the discourse. A discussion of the results of the paper would be proffered in terms of stating the key claims of the findings and determining what it adds to the body of knowledge on SHRM. In addition, the findings from the article would be related sporadically with discussion from the literature in the course module. An assessment of the methods used by Boxall & Purcell would be touched on, as required. Likewise, an identification of the researchs practical implications would be determined; as well as an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the paper, as finale. Authors Boxall & Purcell proffered in