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High Performance Work Systems

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High Performance Work System

An attempt to create an environment that comprises of self managed teams, greater involvement and responsibility of employees, quality circles, new flexible technologies, innovative compensation and appraisal schemes, flatter organizational structures, increased employee training and development and continuous improvement is normally termed as a high performance work system (HPWS). However to be considered as an HPWS an organization must consider certain HR policies and approaches that will enhance its employee’s performance level. HPWS has been defined by Bohlander and Snell as “a specific combination of HR practices, work structures, and processes that maximizes employee knowledge, skill, commitment and flexibility”. According to Barnes HPWS comprises of three main components which comprise of “increased opportunity for employees to participate in decisions, employee training and employee incentives.” However due to the drastic changes in today’s work environment he also included technology as the fourth component of HPWS. The reason for this was the role that technology has started to play in dictating the organizational development. However it should be made clear that the technology has not to be a leading edge technology but in fact it should be competent enough to provide necessary infrastructure for communication and sharing information that is vital to business performance.
Things to consider while implementing HPWS:
According to one of the researchers, if organizations are fascinated in applying HPWS effectively in their organizations than they should ensure that the following characteristics are in place. * Self-managed teams and decentralization of decision making. * Selective hiring of new personnel. * Comparatively high compensation including performance and commitment incentives (e.g., financial

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