Title: HRM in a highly uncertain strategic situation: the case of the electronuclear industry

Authors: Pascal Corbel

Addresses: University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, LAREQUOI, Management Research Centre, 47 boulevard Vauban, F-78047 Guyancourt, France

Abstract: The nuclear industry has some specific strategic features that result in a very high level of uncertainty. The demand for new reactors has been declining for more than twenty years, and gains in performance have slowed down during the same period. As a result, at first sight, this technology should be classified as declining in terms of demand and maturing in terms of technological life cycle. This situation has important consequences on HRM inside this industry. In particular, power plant constructors have had to considerably reduce their personnel numbers. However, this industry also expects a strong revival of demand, which means that it has to preserve its key competences. This paper deals with the management of this paradoxical situation.

Keywords: nuclear technology; uncertainty; key competences; strategy; strategic HRM; human resource management; nuclear industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNKM.2004.005111

International Journal of Nuclear Knowledge Management, 2004 Vol.1 No.1/2, pp.151 - 164

Published online: 02 Sep 2004 *

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