institute for employment studies
the IES HR Network
New trends in international HR management: What’s winning out, consistency or culture
event type : Network debate
an event for IES HR Network members
25 March 2010, 6.30pm – 8.30pm
London School of Economics
Thai Theatre, New Academic Building, Lincoln’s Inn Fields
(event complete)
HR Management Debate, organised by the Institute for Employment Studies and London School of Economics
More than fifty years ago Peter Drucker defined the determination of the appropriate degree of de-centralisation versus centralisation as a key function of leadership, and this continues to be a major issue in any large organisation today. Supported by developments in IT and reinforced by recessionary cost and survival pressures, the centralisation of HR systems and information and development of common global HR processes has been a major trend in recent years in large multinationals. Why have, say, seven different appraisal systems and numerous different payroll and benefits systems operating in a single corporation?
But has this integration and centralisation of HR activity really delivered on the supposed benefits of efficiency, creating a common culture and mindset, global mobility and talent development? Whatever happened to the research findings of Hofstede and Trompenaars on the importance of recognising and valuing local cultures and are these simply being trampled over roughshod? How consistent is the trend with valuing and nurturing diversity and creativity? And why does moving staff across borders seem to continue to get ever more difficult?
Is some form of half-way house, trying to combine the efficiencies of centralisation with the flexibility of localisation possible to deliver? An expert panel of some of the world’s leading academics and practitioners in international HRM will initially present their contrasting views and findings before opening up a general debate amongst our delegates. It will consist of:
- Our Chair, Associate Professor and Director of Research, Dr Paul Gollan, who will be sharing his latest international HRM research funded by the Australian government
- Professor David Marsden, who has researched extensively into the operation of various HR processes operating in Europe
- Peter Reilly, Director of Research and Consultancy at IES, who has researched extensively into the changing shape and roles of HR functions
- Professor David Lewin, Neil H Jacoby Professor of Management, Human Resources & Organizational Behavior at the UCLA Anderson School of Management, a leading authority for many years on global HR management
- Paul Milliken, the UK HR Director for Shell
- Massimo Macarti the European HR chief for Canon
- Tony Hatton-Gore, Group Reward Director for Arup
Venue : London School of Economics
Thai Theatre, New Academic Building, Lincoln’s Inn Fields
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