HR to the Rescue: Case Studies of HR Solutions to Business Challenges - Review

Edited by Edward M. Mone and Manuel London, Ph.D. Gulf Publishing Company, 1998, 280 pages, ISBN: 0-88415-397-5.

By examining the case studies of the companies presented in this anthology, human resource professionals can learn how to diagnose problems and work with organizational leaders to transform their corporations. Contributors include vice presidents and directors from companies such as Colgate-Palmolive and Berlex Laboratories as well as human resource management professors.

This book is divided into 10 chapters. The first chapter serves as an introduction while the subsequent nine chapters discuss the case studies, which include a description of the business challenge and the need for change, the circumstances or change processes currently affecting the transformation (including a merger or downsizing), how HR professionals appraised the situation and an evaluation of the effort including an assessment of what worked and what failed.

In the introduction, the editors discuss the strategic role of human resources and how the profession is changing. They also address challenges for HR professionals, developing programs for employees, supporting individual and organizational change and HR professionalism.

For example, Chapter 2 discusses how Thermo King systematically changed its procurement department so that it was more involved in the company's strategic planning and decision-making processes. An external consulting firm was hired to help design and manage the changes. Human resource managers were responsible for creating new positions and hiring within the procurement department, revamping the existing rewards system to reflect the new changes and creating new career development opportunities.

Chapter 5 shows how the HR department at Colgate-Palmolive worked with upper management to continue recruiting and retaining "the next generation of leaders" in a global business. To identify high-potential candidates capable of and willing to manage employees overseas, a "people development" team within HR was created. After much discussion and extensive one-on-one interviews with upper management, the company launched a formal leadership development program for general managers.

HR to the Rescue: Case Studies of HR Solutions to Business Challenges is available through the SHRMStore at (800) 444-5006, option 1, $33.95 for SHRM members, $37.95 list price. Please ask for item number 48.26547 and use order code M109B.

COPYRIGHT 1999 Society for Human Resource Management
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