Title: HRM practices in foreign MNCs operating in the PRC: a new hybrid form?

Authors: Serena Rovai

Addresses: ESC Grenoble/Newcastle School of Management, DBA Programme, Stradone d'Oria 78, La Spezia 19125, Italy

Abstract: This study examines the critical role played by the environment-related variables on human resource management (HRM) in the PRC for western multinationals (MNCs) when transferring and implementing HRM practices in the host country. In contrast with current literature which suggests that western MNCs choose to adopt HRM policies that resemble more with the parent firm than with local Chinese companies (Bjorkman and Lu, 2000), evidence resulting through the development of our case-study and the exploration of company HRM practices shows how those HRM practices are often a ||hybrid|| of parent firm practices and the local context as further hypothesised by the academia (Bjorkman and Lu, 2000; Chiang, 2000; Rowley and Benson, 2002; Tsui and Li, 2000).

Keywords: HRM practices; human resource management; personnel localisation; adaptation; standardisation; foreign multinational corporations; China.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2005.007105

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2005 Vol.5 No.3, pp.284 - 304

Published online: 26 May 2005 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article