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Soft and Hard Models of Human Resource Management: A Reappraisal[Note 1. Address for reprints: Tim Newton, Department of Business Studies, ...]
Author(s) -
Truss Catherine,
Gratton Lynda,
HopeHailey Veronica,
McGovern Patrick,
Stiles Philip
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of management studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.398
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1467-6486
pISSN - 0022-2380
DOI - 10.1111/1467-6486.00042
Subject(s) - rhetoric , human resource management , control (management) , human resources , resource (disambiguation) , epistemology , order (exchange) , sociology , knowledge management , soft systems methodology , focus (optics) , management science , business , computer science , management , political science , economics , philosophy , linguistics , computer network , management information systems , finance , information system , law , physics , optics
Two of the most widely adopted models of human resource management are the hard and soft versions. These are based on opposing views of human nature and managerial control strategies. The hard model is based on notions of tight strategic control, and an economic model of man according to Theory X, while the soft model is based on control through commitment and Theory Y. We argue that because these assumptions are so divergent, they cannot both properly be incorporated within a single model of human resource management. Eight in‐depth case‐studies were carried out, involving questionnaires, interviews and focus groups in order to find out whether organizations were practising either form of HRM. We found that no pure examples of either form existed. The paper concludes that the rhetoric adopted by the companies frequently embraces the tenets of the soft, commitment model, while the reality experienced by employees is more concerned with strategic control, similar to the hard model. This distinction between rhetoric and reality needs to be taken into account in conceptualizations of human resource management.