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Perceived human resource system strength and employee reactions toward change: Revisiting human resource's remit as change agent
Author(s) -
Alfes Kerstin,
Shantz Amanda D.,
Bailey Catherine,
Conway Edel,
Monks Kathy,
Fu Na
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
human resource management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.888
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1099-050X
pISSN - 0090-4848
DOI - 10.1002/hrm.21948
Subject(s) - social exchange theory , human resource management , psychology , perception , organizational commitment , organizational change , context (archaeology) , perceived organizational support , coping (psychology) , human resources , social psychology , affect (linguistics) , business , knowledge management , public relations , management , political science , economics , clinical psychology , paleontology , communication , neuroscience , biology , computer science
Although scholars have highlighted human resource's (HR's) important role as a change agent, we know little about the extent to which HR influences the change context to foster positive employee responses and support organizational changes. This study positions perceived HR system strength as an important internal context factor that influences employees' reactions toward change. Drawing on emotion theory and social exchange theory, we analyze the mechanisms through which employees' perceptions of HR system strength lead to positive employee responses to organizational change. Data from 704 employees in a UK police force showed that employees' perceptions of HR system strength were positively related to their ability to cope with organizational change and that this relationship was simultaneously mediated by state positive affect and perceived organizational support. Moreover, our findings demonstrated that coping with organizational change was positively related to employees' change‐supportive behavior. This study is important because it broadens the remit of HR's role as change agent and provides valuable insight into how HR positively influences employee outcomes during organizational change.