M.Phil. (Human Resources Development) / The transfer of learning after training courses is relevant to Human Resource Development (HRD) professionals, human resources divisions and managers within organisations. HRD managers in particular must secure a suitable training budget, present learning interventions, and employ qualified HRD practitioners who add value to a company’s turnover and profitability. When the HRD unit assists employees in improving their performance with training, this enables the Human Resources (HR) division to be a strategic business partner to the organisation. HRD practitioners should ensure that the learning provided to employees improves their performance in delivering strategic results without any obstacles or barriers. The aim of the study was to conduct an investigation into the potential learning transfer barriers that could have an impact on the successful transfer of learning within the financial services sector. This study sought to identify the predominant barriers to transfer of learning when employees return to the workplace after attending training. The literature review on the transfer of learning and the barriers to the transfer of learning highlighted an international survey instrument designed to measure the workplace barriers to effective learning transfer. This instrument was used in conducting the research for this study. The unit of analysis of this study included financial services managers from one bank operating within three provinces of South Africa: Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal and Western Cape. The mixed method approach used in this study favours a dominant quantitative approach with a secondary qualitative component. Data was obtained using the adapted, international survey instrument, the Learning Transfer Systems Inventory (LTSI) questionnaire. The LTSI is a validated instrument that is used to diagnose factors affecting successful transfer of learning. HRD professionals are able to use the LTSI to identify potential transfer barriers after administering a learning intervention. The findings reveal that line managers are key role players in the learning transfer challenge. Line managers who fail to support and encourage the application of learning after training represent a barrier to employee transfer of learning. This report recommends that managers play the role of performance coaches, and become enablers of rather than barriers to employee transfer of learning.

Archival research was conducted on the inception of preemployment psychological testing, as part of the background screening process, to select police officers for a local police department. Various issues and incidents were analyzed to help explain why this police department progressed from an abbreviated version of a psychological battery, to a much more sophisticated and comprehensive set of instruments. While doubts about psychological exams do exist, research has shown that many are valid and reliable in predicting job performance of police candidates. During a three year period, a police department hired 162 candidates (133 males and 29 females) who received "acceptable" psychological ratings and 71 candidates (58 males and 13 females) who received "marginal" psychological ratings. A document analysis consisted of variables that have been identified as job performance indicators which police psychological testing tries to predict, and "screen in" or "screen out" appropriate applicants. The areas of focus comprised the 6-month police academy, the 4-month Field Training Officer (FTO) Program, the remaining probationary period, and yearly performance up to five years of employment. Specific job performance variables were the final academy grade average, supervisors' evaluation ratings, reprimands, commendations, awards, citizen complaints, time losses, sick time usage, reassignments, promotions, and separations. A causal-comparative research design was used to determine if there were significant statistical differences in these job performance variables between police officers with "acceptable" psychological ratings and police officers with "marginal" psychological ratings. The results of multivariate analyses of variance, t-tests, and chi-square procedures as applicable, showed no significant differences between the two groups on any of the job performance variables.

This present paper analyses how HR professionals construct and negotiate sustainable human resources management (HRM). The empirical data is collected through five interviews with six informants and in the Swedish working context. A Foucauldian inspired qualitative discourse analysis reveals how sustainability is seen as an important part of HR, and moreover, societal sustainability is seen as the main focus of HR. Contrary to most of the prior sustainability HR research, the discourse of ecological sustainability was not activated to the same extent as the other societal discourses. Instead, the study showed that in the Swedish work context, the matters of health promotion, equality and diversity are seen as more essential.

A dinâmica do cenário contemporâneo tem obrigado as organizações a se modificarem para sobreviver. No entanto, essas mudanças acontecem de forma contextualizada e são aplicadas de diferentes formas, nas várias dimensões organizacionais. A proposta deste estudo foi aprofundar o conhecimento sobre o modo como a Gestão de Recursos Humanos (GRH) vem respondendo ao processo de mudanças, no Brasil, considerado seu desenvolvimento recente. O objetivo foi caracterizar as práticas estratégicas de GRH em organizações privadas que atuam no País, buscando classificá-las, além de identificar os fatores determinantes desse posicionamento e comparar as práticas utilizadas em sistemas descritos na literatura internacional. No levantamento teórico proposto para esse objetivo, investigou-se a Gestão Estratégica de Recursos Humanos, a evolução e contextualização da área no panorama brasileiro e os diferentes tipos de GRH existentes. A pesquisa empírica foi quantitativa de cunho descritivo. Foram coletados dados com um questionário de práticas de gerenciamento de pessoas validado e reconhecido internacionalmente. Desse questionário, foram selecionadas práticas coerentes com os objetivos propostos e analisadas estatisticamente. Os dados revelaram a participação da GRH na estratégia organizacional; prevalência de práticas menos efetivas no gerenciamento do desempenho e da capacidade dos empregados da organização; e relações com os sindicatos limitadas às negociações coletivas. Isso mostra uma tendência das organizações pesquisadas para a perspectiva estratégica da gestão de pessoas. No entanto, nem todas as empresas podem ser descritas da mesma forma. Uma análise de agrupamento classificou a amostra em quatro diferentes grupos de GRH, que por suas características foram classificados como: 1. Operacional; 2. Estratégico; 3. Formalizado; e 4. Comunicativo. As características e proporções mostraram que ainda existem organizações que gerenciam seus empregados de forma meramente burocrática, mas muitas empresas já adotaram um posicionamento estratégico e muitas outras caminham para tal. A partir dessa classificação foi realizada uma comparação das médias de ações de GRH descritas na literatura que, em grupo, formavam práticas calculativas e colaborativas. Essa análise revelou que as empresas do grupo GRH Estratégico possuem as mais altas médias tanto em práticas calculativas quanto colaborativas. O segundo grupo com médias mais elevadas para as práticas calculativas foi o grupo da GRH Formalizada, e o segundo grupo com médias mais altas colaborativas é o GRH Comunicativa. Por fim, foram levantadas variáveis organizacionais que poderiam contribuir para a determinação do grupo estratégico. Entre elas destacam-se o setor de atuação e a formalização da estratégia organizacional. Esses dados retratam uma mudança no perfil de gestão de pessoas nas organizações presentes no Brasil, mostrando que a GRH está mais preocupada em contribuir com a competitividade empresarial. Além disso, diferentes achados sugerem a confluência de influências culturais e institucionais subsidiando as escolhas da área de gestão de pessoas, conciliando aspectos de diferentes naturezas e aproximando essas práticas da heterogeneidade da sociedade brasileira. / The present-day dynamic scenario has compelled organizations to change to survive. However, these changes happen in a contextualized way. The proposal of this study was to deepen the knowledge regarding Human Resource Management (HRM) in Brazil, regarding its recent development. This study\'s objective was to characterize strategic practices of HRM in private companies in this country, seeking not only to classify them, but also to identify these strategies determinant factors and to compare these chosen practices with systems described in international literature. The proposed theoretical set up for this objective investigated Human Resource Management, its evolution and contextualization in Brazilian context and the different HRM systems. The empirical research was quantitative of descriptive nature. Data was collected using a practice-and-people-management questionnaire internationally validated and recognized. Practices that were coherent with the prosed objectives were selected from this questionnaire and they were statistically analyzed. The data reveled the HRM organizational strategy; the dominant practices that are less effective in the performance and employee\'s capacity management; and unions participation in collective negotiations. This shows that the researched companies tend to a strategic HR perspective. Not all the companies can be described in the same way though. A cluster analysis classified the sample in four different HRM groups. 1. Operational; 2. Strategic; 3. Formalized; 4. Communicative. The characteristics and proportions showed that some organizations still manage their employees in a bureaucratic way, but many companies already adopted a strategic positioning and many more walk that way. Based in this classification, a mean comparison from certain HRM actions was made that, in group, generated calculative and collaborative practices. This analysis revealed that Strategic HRM companies have the highest mean values related to calculative and collaborative practices. The second group with highest mean values for calculative practices is Formalized HRM and the group with the second highest mean value with collaborative practices is the Communicative HRM. Finally organizational variables were tested to see which ones could contribute for the setup of the strategic group. Among them the occupation sector and strategy formalization are more prominent. This data shows a change in the human resource profile in organizations present in Brazil, showing that HRM is more concerned in add to the institutional competitiveness. Furthermore, these findings suggest a confluence of cultural and institutional influences supporting the choices made by human resource management area, adjusting aspects of different natures and approaching these practices to the heterogeneity so present in Brazilian society.

A dinâmica do cenário contemporâneo tem obrigado as organizações a se modificarem para sobreviver. No entanto, essas mudanças acontecem de forma contextualizada e são aplicadas de diferentes formas, nas várias dimensões organizacionais. A proposta deste estudo foi aprofundar o conhecimento sobre o modo como a Gestão de Recursos Humanos (GRH) vem respondendo ao processo de mudanças, no Brasil, considerado seu desenvolvimento recente. O objetivo foi caracterizar as práticas estratégicas de GRH em organizações privadas que atuam no País, buscando classificá-las, além de identificar os fatores determinantes desse posicionamento e comparar as práticas utilizadas em sistemas descritos na literatura internacional. No levantamento teórico proposto para esse objetivo, investigou-se a Gestão Estratégica de Recursos Humanos, a evolução e contextualização da área no panorama brasileiro e os diferentes tipos de GRH existentes. A pesquisa empírica foi quantitativa de cunho descritivo. Foram coletados dados com um questionário de práticas de gerenciamento de pessoas validado e reconhecido internacionalmente. Desse questionário, foram selecionadas práticas coerentes com os objetivos propostos e analisadas estatisticamente. Os dados revelaram a participação da GRH na estratégia organizacional; prevalência de práticas menos efetivas no gerenciamento do desempenho e da capacidade dos empregados da organização; e relações com os sindicatos limitadas às negociações coletivas. Isso mostra uma tendência das organizações pesquisadas para a perspectiva estratégica da gestão de pessoas. No entanto, nem todas as empresas podem ser descritas da mesma forma. Uma análise de agrupamento classificou a amostra em quatro diferentes grupos de GRH, que por suas características foram classificados como: 1. Operacional; 2. Estratégico; 3. Formalizado; e 4. Comunicativo. As características e proporções mostraram que ainda existem organizações que gerenciam seus empregados de forma meramente burocrática, mas muitas empresas já adotaram um posicionamento estratégico e muitas outras caminham para tal. A partir dessa classificação foi realizada uma comparação das médias de ações de GRH descritas na literatura que, em grupo, formavam práticas calculativas e colaborativas. Essa análise revelou que as empresas do grupo GRH Estratégico possuem as mais altas médias tanto em práticas calculativas quanto colaborativas. O segundo grupo com médias mais elevadas para as práticas calculativas foi o grupo da GRH Formalizada, e o segundo grupo com médias mais altas colaborativas é o GRH Comunicativa. Por fim, foram levantadas variáveis organizacionais que poderiam contribuir para a determinação do grupo estratégico. Entre elas destacam-se o setor de atuação e a formalização da estratégia organizacional. Esses dados retratam uma mudança no perfil de gestão de pessoas nas organizações presentes no Brasil, mostrando que a GRH está mais preocupada em contribuir com a competitividade empresarial. Além disso, diferentes achados sugerem a confluência de influências culturais e institucionais subsidiando as escolhas da área de gestão de pessoas, conciliando aspectos de diferentes naturezas e aproximando essas práticas da heterogeneidade da sociedade brasileira. / The present-day dynamic scenario has compelled organizations to change to survive. However, these changes happen in a contextualized way. The proposal of this study was to deepen the knowledge regarding Human Resource Management (HRM) in Brazil, regarding its recent development. This study\'s objective was to characterize strategic practices of HRM in private companies in this country, seeking not only to classify them, but also to identify these strategies determinant factors and to compare these chosen practices with systems described in international literature. The proposed theoretical set up for this objective investigated Human Resource Management, its evolution and contextualization in Brazilian context and the different HRM systems. The empirical research was quantitative of descriptive nature. Data was collected using a practice-and-people-management questionnaire internationally validated and recognized. Practices that were coherent with the prosed objectives were selected from this questionnaire and they were statistically analyzed. The data reveled the HRM organizational strategy; the dominant practices that are less effective in the performance and employee\'s capacity management; and unions participation in collective negotiations. This shows that the researched companies tend to a strategic HR perspective. Not all the companies can be described in the same way though. A cluster analysis classified the sample in four different HRM groups. 1. Operational; 2. Strategic; 3. Formalized; 4. Communicative. The characteristics and proportions showed that some organizations still manage their employees in a bureaucratic way, but many companies already adopted a strategic positioning and many more walk that way. Based in this classification, a mean comparison from certain HRM actions was made that, in group, generated calculative and collaborative practices. This analysis revealed that Strategic HRM companies have the highest mean values related to calculative and collaborative practices. The second group with highest mean values for calculative practices is Formalized HRM and the group with the second highest mean value with collaborative practices is the Communicative HRM. Finally organizational variables were tested to see which ones could contribute for the setup of the strategic group. Among them the occupation sector and strategy formalization are more prominent. This data shows a change in the human resource profile in organizations present in Brazil, showing that HRM is more concerned in add to the institutional competitiveness. Furthermore, these findings suggest a confluence of cultural and institutional influences supporting the choices made by human resource management area, adjusting aspects of different natures and approaching these practices to the heterogeneity so present in Brazilian society.

A wide range of Human Resources (HR) processes and information can now be managed and devolved to line managers and employees using e-HRM (‘electronic Human Resource Management’). E-HRM has been defined as “An umbrella term covering all possible integration mechanisms and contents between HRM and information technologies, aiming at creating value within and across organisations for targeted employees and management.” (Bondarouk & Ruel, 2009, p.507). Contemporary e-HRM technologies contain powerful functionality that can support organisations in reducing the cost and improving the quality of Human Resource service delivery, as well as enabling higher productivity and providing strategic capability. The aim of this dissertation is to explore why the development of e-HRM has been relatively immature, given that organisations tend to take an ‘automating’ approach that focuses primarily on administrative efficiency. The central thesis is that future development of e-HRM depends on two factors; firstly, that stronger links between e-HRM and competitive advantage at the organisational level must be defined and exploited; and secondly that shared frames of reference with regard to technology are critical to gaining the support of investors in e-HRM. The dissertation explores the wider context of e-HRM and its relationship to contemporary themes such as HR transformation, service delivery models, the growth of the internet and changing employee and managerial workplace expectations. Various definitions of e-HRM are explored, together with a literature review that categorises and summarises e-HRM literature over a twenty-one year period, concluding that there has been inadequate focus on understanding how e-HRM creates value. The dissertation makes a key contribution to practice through the e-HRM Value Model, a framework for defining, understanding and articulating how e-HRM creates organisational value. Its focus is on the outcomes of e-HRM rather than its characteristics, proposing that only three forms of outcomes can be derived from e-HRM: Operational HR cost reduction, improved people management / productivity and increased strategic capability. It represents a means of defining not only the value outcomes of e-HRM, but also the linkages between value potential, value conversion and value outcomes, providing a practical framework for defining the linkages between e-HRM and competitive advantage, as well as the basis for a diagnostic tool. The dissertation makes a contribution to knowledge through the analysis and subsequent synthesis of a wide-ranging literature review and interviews with fortysix managers and line managers across fifteen organisations that were planning for or had implemented e-HRM. It concludes with a series of proposed reasons for the slow progress towards greater strategic use of e-HRM, based on a technological frames approach with regard to the Nature of Technology, Technology in Use and Technology Strategy. The dissertation argues that unless HR professionals are themselves able to make sense of e-HRM and articulate the benefits in terms of competitive advantage, e-HRM development is likely to remain immature. Further research opportunities to develop and test the model are identified, together with an assessment of the implications for e-HRM management.

The objective of this research is to evaluate Human Resources managerial/development effectiveness (HRM/DE) of frontline managers from the perspectives of managers themselves and stakeholders in the public health sector (PHS) of Ghana. The study did this through the development of a conceptual framework which combined the use of integrated organisational and management theoretical perspectives and contextual variables. The study employed the mixed methods research methodology which combined both empiricism and post post-positivists' views with critical realism as the underpinning philosophy. A total of 18 district directors of health, from two regions were purposively sampled and interviewed utilising an in-depth open ended questionnaire through the discussion. Additionally, key policy makers were interviewed and focus group discussions held and a structured questionnaire completed by another group of employees, who assessed managers' capabilities. Discourse analysis was used for the analysis with the aid of Nvivo 7 for the qualitative material whilst quantitative data were analysed using simple descriptive statistics. Findings were triangulated using Marquart and Zercher's (2000) cross-over track analysis framework. Findings show research questions were answered. Majority of district directors lack managerial competencies; are less interested in HRM/D activities, less confident of their human resource skills and less sure of the political and representational skills required of managers. In particular, it is necessary to take account of the political structure of the PHS of Ghana; significant differences exist in power, individual or group interests, values, assumptions and expectations. However, most district directors have tried to indigenise HRM/D practices as a way of motivating and retaining staff. Core Human resources managerial competencies from the perspectives of the three sampled groups have been compiled. It is the first time such a study has been conducted in the PHS of Ghana and which has therefore made inroads in the existing literature and has contributed to HRM/D literature information in Africa particularly Ghana. It also paves the way for understanding management in the African context and perspective and specifically in health care settings. This study has gone beyond the two groups of respondents and proved that the use of multiple respondents generates rich findings and unveiled what would normally have not been possible if single respondents were used.

\"Geração Y\" é um tema que vem ganhando cada vez mais espaço no contexto organizacional. Com a entrada dos jovens desta geração nas empresas as discussões sobre este assunto vêm ganhando cada vez mais atenção. No entanto, existem poucos trabalhos acadêmicos publicados sobre esta questão. Em função disto, este trabalho é um estudo exploratóriodescritivo que tem por objetivo apresentar as principais características dos jovens da Geração Y que atuam em organizações complexas e apontar como os gestores conduzem estes jovens no cotidiano, aproveitando os pontos positivos e administrando as características não desejadas. Para isto, buscou-se analisar as habilidades do gestor como desenvolvedor de pessoas e o papel das ferramentas de gestão de pessoas disponibilizadas pela organização nesta condução. É importante delimitar o estudo à Geração Y que atua em organizações complexas, pois em função da desigualdade social e educacional observada em nosso país. Não é possível dizer que os resultados deste estudo abranjam todos os jovens classificados como Geração Y. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa que consultou 12 organizações e abordou 19 entrevistados, abordados a partir de um roteiro semiestruturado. Durante as entrevistas, aproveitou-se para observar o ambiente de trabalho, com intuito de trazer informações adicionais para a pesquisa. Além da visão geral, o autor segmentou as empresas participantes por setor para verificar a existência de alinhamento de características que se destacam em função da especificidade do setor. As análises das entrevistas indicam que é fundamental as organizações possuírem ferramentas e ações estruturadas de Gestão de Pessoas, pois estas apoiaram os gestores na condução dos profissionais, principalmente, os da Geração Y. Além disto, a pesquisa fala da importância do gestor atuar como \"Gestor de Pessoas\" conduzindo a equipe de forma a alinhar as expectativas da organização às dos jovens profissionais. / \"Generation Y\" is a theme that is gaining more space in the organizational context. With the entry of the young people from this generation in these companies the discussions on this subject have been gaining increasing attention. However, there are few published academic papers on this issue. Because of this, this work is an exploratory descriptive study that aims to present the main characteristics of young people of Generation Y who work in complex organizations and appoint how the managers lead these young people in everyday life, taking advantage of the strengths and managing features not you want. For this, we sought to analyze the manager\'s skill as a developer of people and the role of people management tools available for organizing this drive. It is important to delimit the study to Generation Y which operates in complex organizations, as a function of social and educational inequality observed in our country. It is not possible to say that the results of this study cover all young people classified as Generation Y. It is a qualitative study which consulted 12 organizations and 19 respondents, approached from a semi-structured script. During the interviews, used to observe the work environment, aiming to provide additional information for the research. In addition to the overview, the author segmented the companies by industry participants to check the alignment of features that stand out to the specific sector. The analysis of the interviews indicate that is critical to these organizations possess tools and structured actions of Personnel Management, as they supported the managers in the conduct of professionals, especially those of Generation Y. Furthermore, the research speaks of the importance of the manager to act as \"Manager People\" leading the team to align the organization to the expectations of young professionals.

The purpose of this research project is to answer the question, "How and with what effects does Logan Aluminum, Inc. translate and implement the principles of socio-technical and team management theory into its organizational culture and operational activities?" To answer this question the researcher first examined the literature related to those theories and then conducted on-site interviews and ethnographic research to witness their implementation. The researcher found strong evidence to prove the validity and accuracy of many of those theories when practiced in an organizational setting. Theories particularly proven were those relating to the necessity of constant training, the role of leadership, team and team member capabilities, employee morale and team maturation.

In light of research that suggests that formal needs analysis leads to efficient and productive training programs, managers and a sampling of non-management employees from a mid-size manufacturing company participated in a needs assessment to determine future training needs for the company's mangers. The information was collected through focus group interviews and a Q-sort technique was developed to categorize the issues raised in the interviews. The categories of training issues and related concerns identified as a result of the focus group interview process were compared to a list of training topics generated by managers through an informal survey prior to the needs assessment. The comparison indicated that the training issues generated by managers in the informal survey were not congruent with the issues identified as a result of the needs assessment process. Comparisons were made between the major issues addressed by various departments, management levels, and functional groups. These comparisons indicated that some concerns were identified by all departments, management levels, and functional areas and could be defined as organizational concerns while other concerns were identified by specific departments, management levels, or functional areas.