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The Transformation of Employment Relations in New Zealand State‐Owned Enterprises: The Assertion of Management Control
Author(s) -
Powell Michael,
Spicer Barry
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
asia pacific journal of human resources
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.825
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1744-7941
pISSN - 1038-4111
DOI - 10.1177/103841119403200207
Subject(s) - devolution (biology) , human resource management , industrial relations , business , incentive , assertion , government (linguistics) , control (management) , bureaucracy , state (computer science) , labor relations , legislation , management control system , market economy , public administration , economics , management , political science , sociology , linguistics , philosophy , algorithm , politics , anthropology , computer science , law , programming language , human evolution
This paper examines the changes in employment relations which occurred in a number of government departments, government trading enterprises and statutory corporations as they were transformed into state‐owned enterprises (SOEs) under New Zealand State‐Owned Enterprises Act 1986. Under this important piece of legislation every SOE is expected to operate as a successful business which is as profitable and efficient as comparable businesses not owned by the state. Resulting changes in employment relations included the removal of centralized and bureaucratic public‐sector controls, the assertion of management control in employment relations, the devolution of manage ment control, the reform of the workplace, the design of new performance appraisal and incentive mechanisms, and a focus on devices to change organizational culture and employee commitment. As they emerge from their transitions, SOEs are beginning to develop a strategic human resource management perspective.