In this essay you examine the notion of �high-performance work systems� as an example of a
system operating within organisations, designed and implemented by HR and/or line managers. Use this
week�s Collaboration to share your thoughts about HPWS, and HR systems and organisations in
general, with your colleagues. Be sure to discuss ways in which your experiences and differing
perspectives can help you understand what you have read and, in turn, how your readings can help you
expand your thinking about organisations and systems.
�Exploring similarities and differences in your perspectives on the potential value of HPWS
�Sharing alternative perspectives on implications of HPWS for HR managers, line managers and the
organisation�s design
�Synthesising general lessons about the HR leader�s role in organisation design, systems design and
relationships with line managers
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High performance work system is a need for all organizations since it impacts their
organizations positively. Multi-skilling is work ethic that is highly encouraged because it helps in
achieving high-performance of work design advocated for in any organization (Gilbert, De
Winne, and Sels 2011). In order to enhance the high-performance work design, the leaders adopt
the usage of the supportive techniques, where members are supported in bettering their working
conditions rather than the use of autocratic style of leadership. For the kit-marshalling, the
support systems are employed to improve on work performance and to make the team work
function effectively as compared to the productive units, material are adequately supplied to
avoid shortage that may slow down the work.
To attain success in an organization, the management has to set goals to aid in attain the
success through hard work as can be seen in leading corporations like Google. Thorough training
is normally done on the new employees so that they familiarize themselves with the corporate
culture of their organizations. Boxall and Purcell (2008) argue that, the employees are advised to
be involved in the trainings that take place in the organization in order to learn more on the code
and ethics of the business. This helps put the business in a position to produce high work
performance which will lead to the success of the organization. Employees are allowed to
participate in the payment system as this will motivate them to work harder as they feel
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acknowledged to be part and parcel of the organization. The payment systems are designed in a
way that suits the organization and the employee’s needs, such that each of the two sides benefit
from the system. In some cases team members are allowed to use the peer performance review
where they evaluate one another on matters of performance to identify if the management team is
working or if the workers are failing in their duty of working hard towards the success of the
organization. The peer performance review, therefore, helps to ensuring both the management
and the workers carry out their role accordingly.
The human resource specialists should be able to contribute to the process of organization
design since they have great contribution to the success of the business. At Google, the HR
department are actively involved in the organization design so that all the work is properly
aligned with the organizations mission and vision. The organizations of a particular function and
activities in regard to the basis upon which the relationship between are managed by the human
resource managers together with the line managers. Managers work to ensure that people work
cooperatively together and if need be the organization has to be adjusted so that it can be able to
fit the particular strengths and attributes of the people available to achieve the desired goal.
According to Gong, Law, Chang and Xin (2009), there is the need to have an ideal structure that
will be modified to meet particular desired circumstances that are helpful to the organization.
The alternative perspective on implication of the high-work performance on the organization
design will be to optimize the arrangements for conducting the affairs of the business by
clarifying the overall performance of the business. Organization design also aims at providing
the achievement of the cooperation effort together with the integration of activities and
teamwork in pursuit of a common goal. Organization design defines the role and the function of
each organizational unit, such that all the individual roles are well clarified not forgetting the role
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of the authorities and the accountabilities. Organizational design aims at building of flexibility
into the system and this helps the system to adapt fast to challenges and new situations which if
not taken into consideration may negatively affect the organizations success. It also aims at
planning and implementing organization development activities and this positively contributes to
the success of the organization which later motivates its workers. The human resource managers
have role to review the organization to ensure that each persons present is playing his role as
required through hard work. The review is normally conducted in four stages which include the
analyzing stage where the managers have to review the factors that may affect the organization
in the present or in future. They also have to diagnose what ought to be done to better the
organization functions and structure through the implementing of the organization after planning
for the right time to do so. When all these reviews have been done it then calls for the
implementation of the plan that has been set aside to be followed to the later.
Both the human resource and the line managers have to set guidelines that will help the
organization to move forward (Sanders & Frenklen, 2011). These guidelines involve the
differentiation of work for all to know what they should do and integrating the work so that all
the people in that organization through the high work performance can be able to work towards
the same goal. The managers need to allocate work to all the departments, project groups,
functions, individual position and all units in that organization and advocate for team work. They
also need to delayer the organization by removing superfluous layer in order to promote
flexibility and increase responsiveness with the aim of enabling the people to be given more
responsibility on their duties. This helps to reduce costs on the much undone work and improves
the overall efficiency of the business. According to Sanders Frenklen (2011), the main motive of
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HR department is to ensure that all the functions within the organization is aligned with the
mission and vision of the organization.
Lessons about HR in an organization design, system design and line managers are
enormous within organizations. The lesson about the human resource an organization is that the
organization design that they employ in their work leads to the organization planning. Through
planning, they can be able to convert their analysis in to data, which aids in the recognition of the
human resource requirements in line with the changes that ought to be implemented to better the
working of the organization. According to Frenkel, Sanders, & Bednall (2009), planning is what
determines the structure, relationship and the roles which prove contingent in the present and in
future. Human resource has to be involved in organization design because it is all about people
and they work they do. In case of consulting people from outside there is the need to ensure that
the line and the human resource are involved in order to make the implement the proposals
smoothly.
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References
Sanders, K., & Frenklen, S. 2011. HR-line management relations: characteristics and effects. The
International Journal of Human Resource Management, Vol. 22, No. 8, 1611–1617
Frenkel, S., Sanders, K., & Bednall, T. 2009. ‘How Do Employees Perceptions of Management
and HR-Line Relations Affect Employee Attitudes to Work,’ paper presented at
International HRM conference, Amsterdam
Boxall, P., and Purcell, J. 2008. Strategy and Human Resource Management (2nd ed.),
Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Gong, Y., Law, K.S., Chang, S., and Xin, K.R. 2009, ‘Human Resource Management and Firm
Performance: The Differential Role of Managerial Affective and Continuance
Commitment,’ Journal of Applied Psychology, 94, 263–275
Bjo¨rkman, I., Ehrnrooth, M., Smale, A., and John, S. 2011, ‘The Determinants of Line
Management Internalisation of HRM Practices in MNC Subsidiaries,’ International
Journal of Human Resource Management, 22, 8, 1654–1671
Gilbert, C., De Winne, S., and Sels, L. 2011, ‘The Influence of Line Managers and HR
Department on Employees’ Affective Commitment,’ International Journal of Human
Resource Management, 22, 8, 1618–1637
