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An Unexplored Relationship: Australian Management Consulting and the Management of Human Resources
Author(s) -
Kitay Jim,
Wrght Christopher
Publication year - 1999
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 - 10.1177/103841119903700302
Subject(s) - human resource management , outsourcing , business , human resources , function (biology) , information technology consulting , productivity , knowledge management , management , marketing , public relations , political science , information technology management , economics , information system , management information systems , economic growth , evolutionary biology , computer science , law , biology
Over the last two decades management consulting has enjoyed phenomenal growth and expansion; however, the activities and influence of consultants remain largely unexplored. This paper examines the relationship between the burgeoning management consulting industry and the management of human resources in Australia. Using a broad definition of ‘human resource consulting’, the paper argues that the role of management consultants in human resource management has expanded significantly. The AWIRS 95 survey is used to examine factors affecting the use of consultants in employee relations. The findings suggest that consultants are more likely to be engaged by larger, overseas‐owned workplaces, at head‐office level, and in establishments seeking to improve productivity and employee relations. The data also suggest a possible link between the use of consultants and the outsourcing of elements of the human resource function.