4
HR strategies
As described in Chapter 3 strategic HRM is a mindset, which leads to
strategic actions and reactions, in the form of either overall or specific HR
strategies or strategic behaviour on the part of HR professionals. The role of
HR is covered in Chapter 5. This chapter focuses on HR strategies under the
following headings:
l What are HR strategies?
l What is the purpose of HR strategies?
l What are the main types of overall HR strategies?
l What are the main areas in which specific HR strategies are developed?
l What are the criteria for an effective HR strategy?
l How should HR strategies be developed?
l How should HR strategies be implemented?
Part 4 of this book contains a strategic HRM toolkit, which provides
guidance on conducting a strategic review as the basis or the development of
HR strategies.
WHAT ARE HR STRATEGIES?
HR strategies set out what the organization intends to do about its human
resource management policies and practices and how they should be inte-
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