High performance work systems in corporate turnaround: a German case study

Purpose - This study aims to investigate the nexus of high-performance work systems (HPWS) with corporate change that leads to enhanced performance.Design methodology approach - The paper uses a case study method and analyzes the impact of a HPWS, adopted at a German medical technology company, on c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of organizational change management 2013-01, Vol.26 (1), p.190-216
Main Authors: Mihail, Dimitrios M, Mac Links, Myra, Sarvanidis, Sofoklis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bundling
Case studies
Competition
Corporate culture
Costs
Economics
Employee involvement
Employment
Global marketing
Guidelines
Human resource management
Human resources
Links
Management
Manufacturing
Medical technology
Organizational change
Performance enhancement
Productivity
Wages & salaries
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Summary:Purpose - This study aims to investigate the nexus of high-performance work systems (HPWS) with corporate change that leads to enhanced performance.Design methodology approach - The paper uses a case study method and analyzes the impact of a HPWS, adopted at a German medical technology company, on corporate turnaround and performance outcomes. In the present study, conducting in-depth interviews with the social partners of corporate change, the authors investigate how leadership, competition forces and employee relations interacted with a bundle of high-performance work practices led the company to massive changes in production with noticeable performance outcomes.Findings - The analysis lends support to the HPWS approach that links certain high-commitment work practices to corporate changes and enhanced performance outcomes such as rising employee productivity and sales over the last decade.Practical implications - The study pinpoints key factors that could optimally be used as a best practice framework for change management leading to corporate turnaround in a highly volatile world economy.Social implications - The HPWS approach, facilitating corporate turnaround, underlines the importance of social partnership for modern corporations to handle groundbreaking changes and survive the fierce competition in global markets.Originality value - Using a case study method, the analysis lends some support to the HPWS perspective that links high-commitment work practices to enhanced corporate performance.
ISSN:0953-4814
1758-7816
DOI:10.1108/09534811311307978