Chapter 16 Creating High-Performance Work Systems

Copyright © 2004 South-Western. All rights reserved.
PowerPoint Presentation by Charlie Cook

Copyright © 2004 South-
Western. All rights reserved. 16–2
Objectives
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
1. Discuss the underlying principles of high-
performance work systems.
2. Identify the components that make up a high-
performance work system.
3. Describe how the components fit together and
support strategy.
4. Recommend processes for implementing high-
performance work systems.
5. Discuss the outcomes for both employees and the
organization.

Objectives (cont’d)
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
6. Explain how the principles of high-performance work
systems apply to small, medium-sized, and large
organizations.

High-performance Work System (HPWS)
• A specific combination of HR practices, work
structures, and processes that maximizes
employee knowledge, skill, commitment, and
flexibility.
• Systems composed of many interrelated parts
that complement one another to reach the goals
of an organization, large or small.

Developing
High-Performance
Work Systems
Figure 16.1
Linkages toLinkages to
StrategyStrategy
Linkages toLinkages to
StrategyStrategy
Principles ofPrinciples of
HighHigh
InvolvementInvolvement
Principles ofPrinciples of
HighHigh
InvolvementInvolvement
OUTCOMESOUTCOMES
• OrganizationalOrganizational
• EmployeeEmployee
OUTCOMESOUTCOMES
• OrganizationalOrganizational
• EmployeeEmployee
System Design
• Work flow
• HRM practices
• Support
technology
System Design
• Work flow
• HRM practices
• Support
technology
TheThe
ImplementationImplementation
ProcessProcess
TheThe
ImplementationImplementation
ProcessProcess
Presentation Slide 16–1

Underlying Principles of
High-Performance
Work Systems
Figure 16.2
EgalitarianismEgalitarianismEgalitarianismEgalitarianism
SharedShared
InformationInformation
SharedShared
InformationInformation
PerformancPerformanc
e-Rewarde-Reward
LinkageLinkage
PerformancPerformanc
e-Rewarde-Reward
LinkageLinkage
KnowledgeKnowledge
DevelopmentDevelopment
KnowledgeKnowledge
H
PW
S
H
PW
S
H
PW
S
H
PW
S

Principles of HPWS
• The Principle of Shared Information
A shift away from the mentality of command and
control toward one more focused on employee
commitment.
Creating a culture of information sharing where
employees are more willing (and able) to work toward
the goals for the organization.

Principles of HPWS (cont’d)
• The Principle of Knowledge Development
Employees in high-performance work systems need
to learn in “real time,” on the job, using innovative
new approaches to solve novel problems
The number of jobs requiring little knowledge and skill
is declining while the number of jobs requiring greater
knowledge and skill is growing rapidly.

• The Principle of Performance-Reward Linkage
It is important to align employee and organizational
goals. When rewards are connected to performance,
employees will naturally pursue outcomes that are
mutually beneficial to themselves and the
organization.

• The Principle of Egalitarianism
Egalitarian work environments eliminate status and
power differences and, in the process, increase
collaboration and teamwork.
When this happens, productivity can improve if
people who once worked in isolation from (or
opposition to) one another begin to work together.

Anatomy of High-Performance Work Systems
Figure 16.3

Complementary Human Resources
Policies and Practices
StaffingStaffingStaffingStaffing
Training andTraining and
Training andTraining and
CompensationCompensationCompensationCompensation

Ensuring Fit
• Internal fit
The situation in which all the internal elements of the
work system complement and reinforce one another.
• External fit
The situation in which the work system supports the
organization’s goals and strategies.

Achieving
Strategic Fit
Figure 16.4
Competitive
Challenges
Com
pany
Values
Employee
Concerns
Internal FitInternal FitInternal FitInternal Fit
Work-flowWork-flow
DesignDesign
Work-flowWork-flow
DesignDesign
TechnologiesTechnologiesTechnologiesTechnologies
HR PracticesHR PracticesHR PracticesHR Practices
LeadershipLeadershipLeadershipLeadership
External Fit
High
Performance
Work Systems
StrategyStrategy

Diagnosing Internal Fit
HRM 1-ASource: Brian Becker, Mark Huselid, and Dave Ulrich, The HR Scorecard (Cambridge, Mass.: Howard University Press, 2001).

Assuring HPWS Success
• Necessary Actions for a Successful HPWS:
Make a compelling case for change linked to the
company’s business strategy.
Make certain that change is owned by senior and line
managers.
Allocate sufficient resources and support for the
change effort.
Ensure early and broad communication.

Implementing High-Performance Work
Systems
Figure 16.5
Build aBuild a
case forcase for
changechange
Build aBuild a
case forcase for
changechange
CommunicateCommunicateCommunicateCommunicate InvolveInvolve
unionunion
InvolveInvolve
unionunion
NavigateNavigate
transitiontransition
NavigateNavigate
transitiontransition
Evaluation

Building Cooperation with Unions
Figure 16.6Source: The Conference Board of Canada.

Benefits of HPWS
• Employee Benefits
Have more involvement in the organization.
Experience growth and satisfaction, and become
more valuable as contributors.
• Organizational Benefits
High productivity
Quality
Flexibility
Customer satisfaction.

Navigating the Transition
to High-Performance Work Systems
• Build a Transition Structure
• Implementation of High-performance Work
• Incorporate the HR Function as a Valuable
Partner

Evaluating the Success of the System
• Process audit
Determining whether the high-performance work
system has been implemented as designed:
 Are employees actually working together, or is the term
“team” just a label?
 Are employees getting the information they need to make
empowered decisions?
 Are training programs developing the knowledge and
skills employees need?
 Are employees being rewarded for good performance
and useful suggestions?
 Are employees treated fairly so that power differences
are minimal?

Evaluating the Success of the System
(cont’d)
• To determine if the HPWS program is
succeeding in reaching its goals, managers
should look at such issues as:
Are desired behaviors being exhibited on the job?
Are quality, productivity, flexibility, and customer
service objectives being met?
Are quality-of-life goals being achieved for
employees?
Is the organization more competitive than in the past?

Outcomes of High-Performance Work
Systems
• Employee Benefits of HPWS Systems
More involved in work, more likely to be satisfied and
find that needs for growth are more fully met.
More informed and empowered, they are likely to feel
that they have a fuller role to play in the organization
and that their opinions and expertise are valued more.
Greater commitment comes from higher skills and
greater potential for contribution,

Outcomes of High-Performance Work
Systems (cont’d)
• Organizational Outcomes and Competitive
Advantage
Higher productivity
Lower costs
Better responsiveness to customers
Greater flexibility
Higher profitability

Achieving Sustainable Competitive
Advantage through Employees
CharacteristicsCharacteristics
of Employees’of Employees’
CompetenciesCompetencies
CharacteristicsCharacteristics
of Employees’of Employees’
CompetenciesCompetencies
ValuableValuableValuableValuable RareRareRareRare
Difficult to ImitateDifficult to ImitateDifficult to ImitateDifficult to ImitateOrganizedOrganizedOrganizedOrganized

Chapter 16 Creating High-Performance Work Systems

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Chapter 16 Creating High-Performance Work Systems