title: Human resource management and unit performance in knowledge-intensive work.
abstract: To clarify the potential value of a targeted system of human resource (HR) practices, we explore the unique effects of a relationship-oriented HR system and the more commonly studied high commitment HR system on unit performance in the context of knowledge-intensive work. We develop theoretical arguments suggesting that the high commitment HR system contributes to unit performance through its positive effects on employees' collective organizational commitment, general and firm-specific human capital, and access to knowledge. We argue that the relationship-oriented HR system contributes to unit performance through its positive effects on employees' collective access to knowledge by fostering a social context and interpersonal exchange conditions which support employees' ongoing access to knowledge flows within and outside their unit and broader organization. Based on unit-level data collected from a matched sample of employees and managers in 128 units in the science and engineering division of a large hydroelectric power organization, our results suggest that the targeted, relationship-oriented HR system is related to firm performance and may complement a broader, high commitment approach to managing knowledge workers. Specifically, the positive relationship between the high commitment HR system and unit performance is mediated by employees' collective organizational commitment, firm-specific human capital, and access to knowledge in other organizational units; whereas the positive relationship between the relationship-oriented HR system and unit performance is mediated by units' access to knowledge within the unit, in other units, and outside the organization. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Resource Management, Rutgers University.
authors.forename: Rebecca R
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3398-3712
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Kehoe
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Resource Studies, Cornell University.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010559:Personnel Management; D000066477:Work Performance