Human Resource Management and Technical Change

Book excerpt: What role do human resource managers play in the processes of technical change in organizations? What opportunities or constraints are presented by different dimensions of technical change? How does technical change affect such issues as job design, supervision, total quality management, team-working, increased flexibility, skills training and employee involvement? In addressing these central themes and debates, this book provides a systematic analysis of the relations between technical change and human resource management (HRM). The contributors draw on research and case studies to clearly demonstrate that effective technical change in organizations is integrally related to effective HRM - as much by general and line managers as by specialist personnel managers.