Explaining the Performance of Human Resource Management

Human resource departments increasingly use the statistical analysis of performance indicators as a way of demonstrating their contribution to organisational performance. In this book, Steve Fleetwood and Anthony Hesketh take issue with this ‘scientific' approach by arguing that its preoccupation with statistical analysis is misplaced because it fails to take account of the complexities of organisations and the full range of issues that influence individual performance. The book is split into three parts. Part I deconstructs research into the alleged link between people and business performance by showing that it cannot explain the associations it alleges. Part II attributes these shortcomings to the importation of spurious ‘scientific' methods, before going on to suggest more appropriate methods that might be used in future. Finally, Part III explores how HR executives and professionals understand their work and shows how a critical realist stance adds value to this understanding through enhanced explanation.

Steve Fleetwood is Professor of Employment Relations and HRM in Bristol Business School, University of the West of England, Bristol. His research focuses on philosophy of science and methodology as it is applied in social science, especially in organisation and management studies and economics. He has written extensively on critical realism.
Anthony Hesketh is Senior Lecturer at Lancaster University Management School. His research focuses on capturing the impact of people and strategy on organisational performance.