To have and to hold: the impact of human resource
management on skill utilisation and retention
Presented by Professor Andy Smith - Professor of Management & Head, School of Business, UB
Wednesday, 2 April 2008, 1.30-2.30pm in Room B014
Abstract
Much research has been carried out on the supply of skills through the
national VET system to industry. This research has often focused on the
factors which affect the development and formation of skills within
organisations (see for instance Warhurst et al, 2004). But, however
effectively skills are developed by the training system or within
industry, organisations will not be able to reap the benefits unless
they can utilise and retain the skills which they develop and acquire.
Little work has been carried out on the factors that influence the use
and retention of skills. This paper examines the ways in which adopting
human resource management and high performance work systems can help
organisations to better utilise and retain skills. The paper is based
on a recently completed research project which a mix of expert
interviews, survey and case study method.
The research addressed four research questions of particular interest:
- What industries (and organisations within) have the most success in
utilising skills and retaining staff?
- Does the adoption of sophisticated management techniques, such as
human resource management and high performance work systems, help
industries and enterprises to recruit and develop, and particularly to
utilise and retain skilled staff; and, if so, through what mechanisms
does this improvement occur and how can any improvements be measured?
- Are there general lessons that all industries and organisations can
share in the better utilisation and retention of skills?
- What specific measures assist in retraining and retaining existing
workers?
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