INTERNATIONAL HRM

The emphasis throughout this book has been on HRM as it is practice in organizations in the United States. But many of these firms also engage in international trade. A large percentage carry on their international business with only limited facilities and representation in foreign countries. Others, particularly Fortune 500 corporations, have extensive facilities, and personnel in various countries of the world. Managing these resources effectively, and integrating their activities to achieve global advantage, is a challenge to the leadership of these companies. We are quickly moving toward a global economy. While estimates vary widely, approximately 70 to 85 percent of the U.S. economy today is affected by international competition. Recent popular books have suggested that many U.S. companies need to reassess their approach to doing business overseas, particularly in the area of managing human resources. To a large degree, the challenge of managing across borders boils down to the philosophies and systems we use for managing people. In this chapter we will observe that much of what is discussed throughout this text can be applied to foreign operations, provided one is sensitive to the requirements of a particular international setting. The first part of this chapter presents a brief introduction to international business firms. In many important respects, the way a company organizes its international operations influences the type of managerial and human resources issues it faces. In additioft1 we briefly describe some of the environmental factors that also affect the work of managers in a global setting. Just as with domestic operations, the dimensions of the environment form a context in which HRM decisions are made. A major portion of this chapter deals with the various HR activities involved in the recruitment, selection,