AN EXAMINATION OF FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INTEGRATION OF HUMAN-RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND STRATEGIC DECISION-MAKING

Conceptually, a central aspect of ''strategic HRM'' is the integration of the HR function with strategic decision making. Little is known, h owever, about the factors that influence integration or its subsequent effects. Using data from 148 diverse organizations, it was found that strategic type and whether or not top management views employees as s trategic resources were associated with integration, but that labor ma rket munificence and organizational growth were not. The results conce rning the relationship between integration and performance were surpri sing; integration was associated with a lower evaluation of the HRM fu nction by top management. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.