Achieving competitive advantage through strategic human resource management.
The framework presented here challenges health care executives to manage human resources strategically as an integral part of the strategic planning process. Health care executives should consciously formulate human resource strategies and practices that are linked to and reinforce the broader strategic posture of the organization. This article provides a framework for (1) determining and focusing on desired strategic outcomes, (2) identifying and implementing essential human resource management actions, and (3) maintaining or enhancing competitive advantage. The strategic approach to human resource management includes assessing the organization's environment and mission; formulating the organization's business strategy; assessing the human resources requirements based on the intended strategy; comparing the current inventory of human resources in terms of numbers, characteristics, and human resource management practices with respect to the strategic requirements of the organization and its services or product lines; formulating the human resource strategy based on the differences between the assessed requirements and the current inventory; and implementing the appropriate human resource practices to reinforce the strategy and attain competitive advantage.
Fottler
M D
MD
Program in Administration-Health Services, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294.
Phillips
R L
RL
Blair
J D
JD
Duran
C A
CA
D004465:Economic Competition / Q000458:organization & administration; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006740:Hospital Administrators; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007857:Leadership; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010557:Personnel Administration, Hospital / Q000379:methods*; D010559:Personnel Management; D010934:Planning Techniques; D015144:Southeastern United States; D015206:Southwestern United States; D013192:Staff Development