human resource management

With the advent of People Analytics Big Data are made operative on the level of personnel management. An algorithm-based screening and analysis of all kinds of employee-related data and behavioral traces is expected to guarantee evidence-based decisions in an organizational field once considered ‘soft’ and subjective. The article summarizes the objectives and challenges of such data-driven personnel management, as well as its implications for employees and corporate labour policies.

The percentage of employees beyond 50 years of age will grow tremendously over the next 25 years. Fewer younger workers will be available and companies will face the challenge to retain older workers. Companies will be required to introduce an age-differentiated human resource management that deals with the challenges of an older workforce. Based on the results of a survey of companies primarily from the industrial sector, the paper analyses the current situation and develops recommendations for necessary changes in the design of HR instruments of companies.

Getting qualified and motivated employees and high potentials for companies and keeping them is going to be an important issue in leadership in the years to come. Employees achieve the most if they have a clear understanding of their working tasks and claims by using their talents and resources to their best. Not following these in house policies will lead to a high fluctuation, high status of employee´s illness and burn out. Implementing those resourceful strategies will lead to higher strength and better use of talents in business.

Confronted with intensive product price competition in China, industrial firms are forced to invest in extending the service business. Extending the service business is far from easy. Chinese competitors offer faked spare parts. Local service skills are very poor and service requirements force industrial firms to invest in logistic infrastructure. This article offers a guideline for managers seeking to professionalize the human resource management in the service organization, to adapt service offerings to the local customer needs, and to set-up a logistic infrastructure.

Experts predict a lack of skilled employees for research and development in Western Europe within the next decades. Companies, which belong to the high tech sector, look for alternative sites to establish their research and development activities. The most important criteria for this selection are the level of education and the skills of their employees. The article develops a systematic process to support the decision making.