Doing Qualitative Research

Public Management Reform. A Comparative Analysis

This paper presents a framework for studying the concepts of fit and flexibility in the field of Strategic Human Resource Management (Strategic HRM) focusing on HRM practices, employee skills, and employee behaviors and reviews past conceptual and empirical work within that framework. A model of Strategic HRM is presented and this model is used to explore the concepts of fit and flexibility as they apply to Strategic HRM. The concepts of resource and coordination flexibility are applied to Strategic HRM, and the implications of the framework for both the practice of and research on Strategic HRM are discussed.

Toward a Unifying Framework for Exploring Fit and Flexibility in Strategic Human Resource Management

/pdf/from-control-to-commitment-in-the-workplace-in-factory-after-2rcb0rfp25.pdf

From Control to Commitment in the Workplace: In Factory after Factory, There Is a Revolution Under Way in the Management of Work. Readings on Labor-Management Relations.

Green innovation and environmental performance: The role of green transformational leadership and green human resource management

The objective of this paper is to highlight similarities and differences across various case study designs and to analyze their respective contributions to theory. Although different designs reveal some common underlying characteristics, a comparison of such case study research designs demonstrates that case study research incorporates different scientific goals and collection and analysis of data. This paper relates this comparison to a more general debate of how different research designs contribute to a theory continuum. The fine-grained analysis demonstrates that case study designs fit differently to the pathway of the theory continuum. The resulting contribution is a portfolio of case study research designs. This portfolio demonstrates the heterogeneous contributions of case study designs. Based on this portfolio, theoretical contributions of case study designs can be better evaluated in terms of understanding, theory-building, theory development, and theory testing.

/pdf/the-theory-contribution-of-case-study-research-designs-hquwhy99rh.pdf

The theory contribution of case study research designs

Human resource management (HRM) plays an important role in providing better management for nonprofit organizations (NPOs) Yet little is known about what influences their human resource practices After discussing how the strategic and human-resource-based theoretical approaches are appropriate for analyzing HRM in NPOs, the authors explore the current nonprofit literature to identify the specific characteristics of strategic orientations and human resources in NPOs As a result, the authors propose an analytical framework that is differentiated into four HRM types This framework enables a better understanding of the relationship between the specific characteristics of NPOs and the architecture of HRM

/pdf/influences-on-the-architecture-of-human-resource-management-19n7w16j4m.pdf

Influences on the Architecture of Human Resource Management in Nonprofit Organizations: An Analytical Framework

This study aims to shed light on the implementation of HR practices as a key piece of the human resource management (HRM)�performance puzzle Although the literature suggests that discrepancies between the organization's intended and implemented HR practices are essential to understanding employees� perceptions of and reactions to HRM, little attention has been devoted to this issue Drawing upon a multiple-case study of German health and social services organizations, we therefore explore the linkages (and potential gaps) between intended, implemented, and perceived HR practices Our study provides new insights into the underlying mechanisms of this relationship, highlighting an organization's ability to leverage its resources as playing a crucial moderating role in implementing intended HR practices, while employees� expectations of HRM moderate the link between implemented and perceived HR practices We advance a set of propositions that contributes to a more nuanced, multilevel understanding of the complex phenomenon of HRM implementation © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/hrm.21605

Mind the Intended-Implemented Gap: Understanding Employees’ Perceptions of HRM

Demonstrating a theoretical contribution is seen as a central challenge in case study research; however, the literature provides little guidance on the crucial step of positioning the study's theoretical claims in relationship to prior theory. This paper addresses the question of how to enter into a dialogue with extant theory in theory building case study research in the field of management. We present three ways of positioning to demonstrate a theoretical contribution, illustrating each with examples from recent case studies drawing on the dynamic capabilities approach. By distinguishing between seeking complementarities and dissimilarities in theory building, we add to this discussion and shed light on the benefits of entering a synergistic, antagonistic and pluralistic dialogue for making a significant theoretical contribution. Methodologically, we more fully specify how case study researchers can elaborate upon their theoretical claims in relation to prior theory.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1467-8551.12000

Entering a Dialogue: Positioning Case Study Findings towards Theory

In Germany, financial pressure and a lack of efficiency have caused the need for several reform processes in the local governments of German municipalities. These local governments are facing a growing contradiction between decreasing levels of financial support and increasing responsibilities. In order to address this tension, municipalities are starting to change their accounting systems by implementing accrual accounting and output-based budgeting. Starting from a description of reform processes in German municipalities, we use the concept both of the resource-based view and of dynamic capabilities in order to observe the implementation of these new accounting standards. Based on six case studies, our empirical findings show that the idiosyncratic adaptation of new standards in municipalities leads to a diversity of outcomes in the implementation process. Finally, the future prospects of further public financial management reform processes in Germany are presented.

Hans-Gerd Ridder

Papers

The theory contribution of case study research designs

Influences on the Architecture of Human Resource Management in Nonprofit Organizations: An Analytical Framework

Mind the Intended-Implemented Gap: Understanding Employees’ Perceptions of HRM

Entering a Dialogue: Positioning Case Study Findings towards Theory

Analysis of Public Management Change Processes: The Case of Local Government Accounting Reforms in Germany