Rory Eckardt

Turnover and Knowledge Loss: An Examination of the Differential Impact of Production Manager and Worker Turnover in Service and Manufacturing Firms

This research examines the comparative effects of production manager and worker turnover in service and manufacturing settings. We suggest that, due to the centrality of human action in services and the ability of manufacturers to insulate the technical core, service and manufacturing companies are differentially dependent on and impacted by the loss of production manager and worker knowledge. The results from a survey of 150 service and manufacturing firms provide partial support for this notion and show that turnover impacts these organizations differently. More specifically, we find that: (1) the negative impact of production worker turnover on firm performance is greater in service settings than in manufacturing settings; and (2) the negative impact of production worker turnover on firm performance is greater than the impact of production manager turnover in service firms. In addition, our findings show that organizational capital moderates the turnover–performance relationship for production workers in service firms.

Integrating strategic human capital and strategic human resource management

Abstract Human capital is an important construct in a variety of fields spanning from micro scholarship in psychology to macro scholarship in economics. Within the various disciplinary perspectives, research focuses on slightly different aspects and levels of human capital within organizations, which may give opportunities for integration. The current paper aims to increase knowledge about human capital within organizations by integrating two streams of research which focus directly on human capital, but have approached human capital in different ways: strategic human capital (SHC), and strategic HRM. We describe both SHC and strategic HRM research streams and propose areas of integration, and directions for future research on human capital in organizations.

Reflections on the micro–macro divide: Ideas from the trenches and moving forward

This essay provides insights into the reasons why efforts to integrate micro and macro perspectives continue to face challenges. We incorporate the reflections of several experienced researchers on the persistence of the micro–macro divide, organize those reflections into broad themes, and discuss associated insights, implications, and challenges. We note that while immense challenges remain, efforts should continue as greater integration can improve the position of our field in the broader social sciences and lead to substantial contributions. Several suggestions are provided to help this research agenda move forward. Specifically, we advocate developing new process-oriented theories and methods, as well as adopting broader and more inclusive researcher identities, encouraging “intellectual generosity,” and acknowledging that for some research, integration is neither necessary nor desirable.

The Role of Specialization in the Growth of Professional Service Firms

This research examines the impact of service specialization on the rate and mode of growth in professional service firms (PSFs). We argue that, due to the impact of repeated experiences on the time needed to transfer tacit knowledge, specialization increases the rate that PSFs can train their workers, and that this, in turn, increases the rate of firm growth and likelihood of organic expansion modes. The results from our analysis of panel data on large U.S. accounting firms provides support for this argument and show that the scope of service offering in PSFs has important implications for firm growth. We also examine the moderating influence of senior staff leveraging and find that it enhances the positive impact of specialization on firm growth.