Mats Ehrnrooth

An Integrative HRM Process Theorization: Beyond Signalling Effects and Mutual Gains

How and for whom HRM creates value are key questions in management research. The present study develops and tests an integrative HRM process theorization positing the existence of mutually reinforcing ability–motivation–opportunity, signalling, and identity‐based control mechanisms of the influence of HRM on both employee performance and work intensification. In addition to providing empirical support for the ‘how’ of value creation through HRM, the study contributes to the growing critique of the dominant mutual‐gains perspective, the notion that HRM outcomes are straightforwardly positive for both employers and employees. The integrative theorization also opens up interesting avenues for future research on the individual and organizational performance effects of HRM.

MNC subsidiary staffing architecture: building human and social capital within the organisation

The purpose of this paper is to examine the level of human and social capital that different archetypes of subsidiary staffing are associated with, and how this influences the management of knowledge stocks and flows within the MNC. We identify four subsidiary staffing archetypes (local–internal, local–external, global–internal, and global–external) and suggest that each of them can be used for different knowledge-related purposes within the organisation. The local-internal archetype may carry a dual role in both exploiting existing knowledge stocks in their local markets and transferring market knowledge to the headquarters, through the co-existence of a high level of market knowledge and external social capital combined with at least some degree of MNC-specific knowledge and social capital. The local-external archetype, in turn, can play a valuable role in the exploration of new non-redundant knowledge. The global-internal archetype serves a key function in transferring knowledge and best practices from the headquarters to the subsidiaries. Lastly, the global-external archetype seems to have limited human- and social-capital related advantages.

The determinants of line management internalisation of HRM practices in MNC subsidiaries

In this study, we investigated factors that influence the attitudes of line managers towards HRM. Using a sample of the general managers of 123 subsidiaries, we tested whether the general managers level of HRM internalisation – the extent to which he or she values and is committed to the subsidiarys HRM practices – is influenced by two sets of factors: the professional experience of the subsidiary HR manager and the external networking activities and perceived strategic HRM capabilities of the subsidiary HR department. The findings supported the hypotheses relating to the professional experience of the subsidiary HR manager. Furthermore, an inverted U-shaped relationship was found between the tenure of the HR manager in his or her current position and the HRM internalisation of the general manager. The level of perceived strategic HRM capabilities of the subsidiary HR department was also shown to have a positive influence.

Stereotype-Based Managerial Identity Work in Multinational Corporations

The paper advances our understanding of managerial identity work in the context of HQ–subsidiary relations. We argue that a key part of this identity work is related to cultural stereotypes. On the basis of an analysis of two Finland-based MNCs operating in Russia, the paper elucidates three forms of stereotype-based identity work with enabling or constraining power implications. The first form, stereotypical talk, refers to identity work whereby managers enact their stereotypical conceptions of ‘the other’ to bolster their self-image and ‘inferiorize’ ‘the other’. The second form, reactive talk, is identity work that emerges as a reaction to stereotypical talk whereby managers aim at renegotiating the proposed social arrangement for their own benefit. Finally, the third form, self-reflexive talk, refers to identity work whereby managers attempt to go beyond the social arrangement produced through stereotypical and reactive talk by distancing themselves in a self-reflexive manner from essentialist cultural conceptions. Overall, the paper offers an initial attempt to elucidate how stereotype-based identity work is used to justify or resist existing power structures and power asymmetries in HQ–subsidiary relations within the MNC.

From HRM practices to the practice of HRM: setting a research agenda

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop an “HRM-as-practice” research agenda. The authors suggest that the HRM-performance literature would benefit from an actor-centric approach and a focus on activities, and that the HR roles research needs to shift its attention toward a more dynamic perspective of HR work and link this further to performance. Design/methodology/approach – The paper first provides an overview of strategy-as-practice (SAP) literature, and then review how extant HRM literature deals with three core notions of SAP: practices, praxis and practitioners. Based on this, the paper outlines an “HRM-as-practice” research agenda. Findings – Focussing on the intersections between praxis, practitioners and practice, the paper suggests that an “HRM-as-practice” approach can give new insights into first, how people-related decisions are made, implemented and enacted in organizations; second, how employees and other HRM stakeholders interpret and engage with HRM; third, how HR actors become ...

HRM in Western Subsidiaries in Russia and Poland

Abstract This study analyzes the Human Resource Management (HRM) practices in joint ventures and wholly-owned subsidiaries of Western MNCs located in Russia and Poland. Different hypotheses are developed, testing whether or not MNCs are more likely to implement standardized practices in Poland and Russia. The effects on HRM practices of MNC equity share, non-financial resources provided by MNCs to the focal unit, and mode of establishment of the foreign unit are also investigated. Implications for future research and managers are discussed.

Idiosyncrasy, heterogeneity and evolution of managerial styles in contemporary Russia

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine managerial styles of Russian managers in the context of institutional and economic environment of contemporary Russia. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on a sample of 482 line and middle managers covering eight geographic regions, 14 industries and 80 organizations in Russia. Findings – Employing factor and cluster analyses the paper identifies four distinct managerial styles: paternalistic, exploitative, performance oriented and passive. In addition, the paper analyzes a number of contingent characteristics of these typological Russian managers such as their age, career development, regional, industrial and organizational presence. Originality/value – The analysis enriches the understanding of managerial style idiosyncrasy, heterogeneity and evolution in Russia. The identified plurality of managerial styles, differentially related to a number of contingency variables, indicates that it pays off for western companies to avoid using stereoty...

Headquarter-Subsidiary Relations in the Multinational Corporation as a Discursive Struggle

Abstract The article develops a model which conceptualizes headquarter-subsidiary relations in the multinational corporation as a multilevel discursive struggle between key managers. At the first level, the relations are conceptualized as a discursive struggle over decisions and actions using rationalistic discourses. At the second level, they are viewed as a discursive struggle over power relations using control and autonomy discourses. Finally, underlying the first two, at the third level, headquarter-subsidiary relations are conceptualized as a discursive struggle over managers’ worldviews using cultural (pre)conceptions about “the self” and “the other.”

Job satisfaction, blat and intentions to leave among blue-collar employees in contemporary Russia

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine antecedents of intentions to leave among blue-collar employees in domestic Russian organizations. Design/methodology/approach – The study is based on a sample of 1,210 blue-collar employees in 80 domestic organizations across 14 industries and eight regions in Russia. Findings – The analysis shows that wage satisfaction is the strongest negative predictor of Russian employees’ intentions to leave compared to core job-related and interpersonal relations satisfaction. For non-blat employees, the relationships with intentions to leave are negative and significant for all three types of satisfactions, whereas for employees with blat only the relationship between core job-related satisfaction and intentions to leave is significant. Originality/value – The present study, first, reveals that wage satisfaction is the most important but not the only way to retain blue-collar employees in Russia and, second, points toward the complex nature of blat’s influence on em...

Talent responses to talent status awareness-Not a question of simple reciprocation

How to manage talent effectively is a key question in organizations. Yet, we still know relatively little about talent’s psychological reactions to their exclusive status. Based on psychological contract theory and research on status, this study analyzes a sample of 321 employees identified as talent by their organizations, only some of whom were aware of their exclusive talent status. The results provide evidence that talent status awareness moderates the relationship between a range of employer inducements and talent obligations, such that it increases the importance of some inducements while diminishing that of others. The study contributes to the talent management literature by isolating specific effects of talent status awareness and calling into question extant evidence of its direct positive effects on talent attitudes. The findings also have implications for talent status communication, talent management and future theorizing of talent reactions to their exclusive status.