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“Do “High Performance Work Systems” Really Work?”

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Critically assess the concept of “high performance work systems” WORD COUNT: 2153 Critically assess the concept of “high performance work systems” The relationship between employees and their managers is changing. This essay critically assesses high performance work systems (HPWS) and how it effects an organization. Before proceeding to critically assess high performance work systems it is necessary to clarify exactly what these systems consist of. After investigating the foundations of high performance work systems the essay will be extended to contrast the gains and the shortcomings, which arise as a result of these highly contemporary managerial systems. High performance work systems can be familiarly explained as an …show more content…

Furthermore, although it is apparent that positive outcomes can occur due to employees experiencing certain benefits such as rewards from performance and skill based pay it is also essential to identify the elements such as work intensification. Ramsay et al (2000) suggests that although the intensification of workload for an employee may indeed increase organisational output, it can also have “negative consequences for employees in terms of effort and stress”. The result could lead to higher turnover rates due to unhappy employees who feel their psychological contract has been breached. This aspect of work intensification is important as high turnovers can lead to greater costs for an organization. Staff learning and development is a fundamental aspect of the high performance work system scheme. Lawler argues that today, basic employee ambitions are changing and the current workforce is eager to participate in challenging work and opportunities for learning. White (1994) describes HPWS as one that has “self managed teams that design their own work methods” and “have high levels of training”. This suggests that high performance work systems allow staff to be more engaged in autonomous activity within an organization. Although autonomy is

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