title: A house divided: cooperative and competitive recruitment in vital industries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To propose a theoretical based model approach to address the nursing shortage problem of recruiting qualified applicants.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Vital industries such as nursing and trucking face a large labour shortage.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review focusing on recruitment and realistic job previews examines relevant theories and an indication of the focus of similar research. Game theory illustrates cooperative and competitive recruitment strategies in vital industries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proposition and model development where cooperative or competitive strategies for recruitment can either increase or decrease the employee applicant pool. Institutional theory states that firms within a population become isomorphic in nature. Firms employing cooperative or competitive strategies for recruitment can change organisational practices through isomorphic processes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Industries facing a labour market shortage using cooperative strategy will use realistic job previews accurately to disseminate information about industry jobs. Realistic job previews will increase the applicant pool through individuals self-selecting into, rather than out of, the applicant pool.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recruitment in the nursing industry has been examined at the individual applicant and organisational level, yet the overall industry has been ignored. As nursing shortages continue, viewing recruitment at the macro level (the overall industry) is appropriate. Game theory as proposed provides opportunities for current research at the industry level.
authors.affiliation: Marshall University Graduate College, South Charleston, WV, USA.
authors.forename: William K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.affiliation: Marshall University, College of Business - Management Department, One John Marshall Drive, Huntington, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Muslin
authors.affiliation: Marshall University, College of Business - Management Department, One John Marshall Drive, Huntington, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Karlyn N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Timko
mesh_terms: D003163:Competitive Behavior; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005716:Game Theory; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009726:Nurses / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D009729:Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Labor shortage; Nursing; game theory; job recruitment; nursing management; realistic job previews