Title: Human capital and structural position in knowledge networks as determinants when classifying employee groups for strategic human resource management purposes

Authors: Robert Kase, Nada Zupan

Addresses: Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana, Kardeljeva ploscad 17, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija. ' Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana, Kardeljeva ploscad 17, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija

Abstract: Until recently, most theoretical models and empirical investigations in the strategic HRM field focused on inter-firm rather than intra-firm variability and thus implicitly assumed the adoption of the same HR practices (bundles) for managing all employee groups in a firm. Existing classifications of employees for strategic HRM purposes are mostly based on human capital and the employment mode. Through the lens of the knowledge-based view of the firm, we examine the ways in which an individual employee is valuable to a firm and suggest that an individual|s structural position in knowledge networks should also be considered. By conducting a social network analysis of an SME, we establish that studying an individual|s relationship-based characteristics (i.e. an individual|s structural position in knowledge networks) strengthens the reasoning for employee classification and should thus be considered for strategic HRM purposes.

Keywords: strategic HRM; human resource management; social network analysis; human capital; social capital; knowledge networks; structural position; SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2009.028851

European Journal of International Management, 2009 Vol.3 No.4, pp.478 - 494

Published online: 07 Oct 2009 *

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