Introduction
Strategic human resource management (SHRM) is an approach to the devel-
opment and implementation of HR strategies that are integrated with
business strategies and enable the organization to achieve its goals.
In essence, strategic HRM is conceptual; it is a general notion of how inte-
gration or ‘fit’ between HR and business strategies is achieved, the benefits
of taking a longer-term view of where HR should be going and how to get
there, and how coherent and mutually supporting HR strategies should be
developed and implemented. Importantly, it is also about how members of
the HR function should adopt a strategic approach on a day-to-day basis.
This means that they operate as part of the management team, ensure that
HR activities support the achievement of business strategies on a continuous
basis and are consciously concerned with seeing that their activities add
value.
To understand strategic HRM it is first necessary to appreciate the
concepts of human resource management and strategy as covered in
Chapters 1 and 2 respectively in Part 1 (the framework of strategic HR). The
concept of strategic human resource management (strategic HRM) is then
examined in detail in Chapter 3.
Part 2 of the book is concerned with the roles of management and HR in
strategic HRM and with the processes of developing and implementing HR
strategies. Part 3 covers each of the main areas of HR in which strategies are
developed. The book concludes with a toolkit providing guidance on devel-
oping HR strategy through a strategic review.
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