Werner Nienhueser: Empirical Research on Human Resource Management as a Production of Ideology
The article is published in the Special Issue of Management Revue on „Progress of Knowledge in Human Resources Management“ (edited by Albert Martin, see also his introduction: „Mixed Impressions: Respectable Work and Slow Progress in the Science of Personnel Management within German Speaking Countries“ ).
… Mehr lesen...„The article argues that empirical research on Human Resource Management creates a one-sided, distorted image of the reality of work and thus generates ideology. Such an ideology legitimises HR practices and favours the interests of entrepreneurs and managers. This assertion is illustrated and discussed using the case of empirical research in HRM in German-speaking countries, although the ideology assertion should also be valid for Anglo-Saxon countries. It is shown that HRM research mainly follows employer objectives; it primarily analyses performance-related variables. The surveyed HR practices focus on “High Performance Works
„Contemporary career research assumes more flexible career patterns implying increased job mobility. However, there is growing doubt that the proclaimed change is as drastic as has been suggested. We provide empirical evidence on career expectations in Germany between 1999 and 2009, arguing that objective career mobility is both a) mirrored by and b) a consequence of such expectations. Using data from the German socio-economic panel, we test for a general shift in subjective career expectations, job insecurity, and turnover intention among male and female white collar employees and managers. The major finding is that career expectations remain quite stable over time. Managers and professionals have more positive career expectations than other white collar employees but there is not a growing gap. Regarding the impact of explaining factors on job expectations, there is again no detectable trend. With this in mind, changes in workforce composition and characteristics of specific occupational groups …