University of Bath

About: University of Bath is a education organization based out in Bath, Bath and North East Somerset, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 15830 authors who have published 39608 publications receiving 1358769 citations. The organization is also known as: Bath University.

Strategic human resource management: where have we come from and where should we be going?

Abstract: Strategichumanresourcemanagement(SHRM)impliesaconcernwiththewaysinwhichHRM iscriticaltoorganizationaleffectiveness.Thisstraightforwardassertionisexaminedintheory andthroughresearchevidencetorevealhighlevelsofcomplexityinrelationtohow,whenand why the interconnection between HRM and organizational outcomes is achieved. The two dominant normative models of ‘best fit’ and ‘best practice’ are considered. The paper concludes that the HR strategies of firms are heavily shaped by contextual contingencies, includingnational,sectoralandorganizationalfactors.However,suchaconclusiondoesnot invalidate all ‘best-practice’ thinking. Although constrained in certain ways, underpinning principles of labour management still have relevance to practice as essential attributes of a firm’sabilityto competeinitschosenmarkets.Thepaper thenconsiderstheresource-based view (RBV) of the firm and asks whether this provides a better basis for the development of theory in SHRM and in understanding the contribution of HRM to the achievement of sustainedcompetitiveadvantage.WhilelimitstotheutilityofRBVinrespectofSHRMtheory are identified, important implications for research are signalled. Trends in the RBV literature are pushing all those interested in strategy towards studies of intellectual capital, learning processes and organizational adaptability. Researchers in HRM could, if they wished, play a centralroleinthesedevelopmentsbecausequestionsofhowtoattract,motivateanddevelop workerswithcriticalandscarceabilities,anddevelopeffectiveprocessesofworkorganization, mustbefundamentaltoanymodelofknowledge-basedcompetition.Greaterprogresswillbe madewhenorganizationsarestudiedinamuchmoreinterdisciplinaryorsystemicway.

A review of novel techniques for heavy oil and bitumen extraction and upgrading

Abstract: With World oil demand increasing in the face of limited supplies, increasing attention is turning towards non-conventional oil sources as a means to relieve the pressure exerted on conventional stocks. However, non-conventional oils are hard to extract, process and transport. Several technologies are already at work with differing levels of success, recovery ranging from as low as 5% through to more than 70%. This paper reviews the range of Enhanced Oil Recovery techniques, broadly classified into either thermal or non-thermal methods, and their applicability to the extraction of heavy oils and bitumens. Advantages and disadvantages are presented in terms of their recovery factors, requirements, limitations and economics. The potential benefits of additional downhole catalytic upgrading of heavy oils are also explored.

Green stakeholders: industry interpretations and response*

Abstract: This paper argues that industrial responses to ‘green’ pressures may fruitfully be explored using a stakeholder framework. However, the common view of an objective configuration of stakeholders is replaced with one that favours an interpretive perspective. Managers are viewed as crucial mediators of stakeholder influence; how they identify, define and construct stakeholders is an important feature of the meaning of greening and an industry's subsequent response. A qualitative study of managers in four UK industries - supermarkets, automotives, power and chemicals - is reported. the effect of a small number of stakeholders - campaigners and regulators - is examined in some detail, distinguished differentially according to their perceived legitimacy and the threat they pose to industry. Also examined is the large group of traditionally powerful stakeholders - customers, creditors and employees - who fail markedly to impact on industry's greening. the implications of the findings for pro-environmental change and stakeholder theory are discussed.