Reading list: Human resource management

Understanding the positive value of human resource management is important to help business and people achieve their full potential. Here are some recent books from our management library to help you.

These books list below are available for loan to CMI members.  Email us with your membership details and your postal address. to bookloans@managers.org.uk

And if you are interested in the latesting thinking on management the CMI Management Book of the Year ‘Practical manager’ category is worth a look.  For more information about each book got to: http://yearbook.managers.org.uk/

Contemporary employment relations, Steve Williams, Derek Adam-Smith, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2010 The authors present a practical guide to employment relations. Following an introduction to the topic, employment relations are examined within the context of the contemporary global economy, with a consideration of the politics of employment relations and social divisions. A focus is then placed upon key issues surrounding the subject including: managing and challenging trade unions; human resource management; representation at work; developments in pay and working time (which includes inequality, low pay and the National Minimum Wage); redundancy; and conflict, strikes and dispute resolution. Case studies of real life situations from such names as Ryanair, McDonalds, and Royal Mail, are discussed.

HR transformation, Dave Ulrich, and others, New York NY, McGraw Hill, 2009      Building on their previous work on the role of HR professionals, the authors highlight the need for a fundamental transformation of the HR function in order for it to make a meaningful contribution to the performance of companies. They aim to capture both theory and practice and present a four phase model of HR transformation covering: building a business case, defining the outcomes, redesigning HR and engaging line managers and others. Insights from HR leaders and four case studies of HR transformation at Flextronics, Pfizer, Takeda and Intel are included. A listing of tools covered in the text and recommended reading are provided in appendices.

HR leadership, Linda Holbeche Oxford, Butterworth Heinemann, 2010      A focus is placed upon developing effective and successful HR leadership, drawing upon the experiences of leaders in the field. Beginning with an overview of the core elements of HR leadership, the text considers: exercising HR leadership; leading for strategic and operational excellence; leading the talent agenda; building leadership capability; leading change; building healthy and ethical organisations; developing HR leader capabilities; and the future of HR. Interviews with HR leaders are incorporated, representing such companies as Google, McDonalds, easyJet, ASDA, UK Ministry of Defence, and the UK’s National Policing Improvement Agency.

HR strategy, Paul Kearns, Oxford, Butterworth Heinemann, 2010  Human resource management is focused upon as a driver of competitive advantage. This second edition of HR Strategy looks at using predicted results to develop a strategic plan for managing human capital. A practical approach is taken, and the author aims to cover both broad theory and daily practice. The text includes a chapter on due diligence and reporting on human capital, as well as one on strategic value measures and management tools. Case studies are given to illustrate practice in difference contexts.

The employer's handbook 2009-10 Barry Cushway, London, Kogan Page, 2009  The complexities of employment law are broken down and presented in plain language to assist SME employers to comply with legislation surrounding human resource management. Topics covered include: recruiting staff; writing employment contracts; paying staff; employee benefits; performance management; dealing with absence; maternity and paternity rights; working hours and holidays; writing a staff handbook; data protection; organisational change; handling disciplinary issues, grievances, tribunal cases and terminating employment; health and safety responsibility; and trade unions. Charts and diagrams are included, plus references to further reading. Templates, forms and policy documents can be downloaded from a URL specified in the book.

People management in turbulent times, Adrian Furnham, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2009          This collection of short essays, on various aspects of human resource management, have an over-riding theme of people management in times of change, including recession. The essays have been selected to try to dispel nonsense and encourage sense in the world of people management.