High performance in a reliability seeking organisation: Professor Keith Townsend, Griffith University

Event Date: 2 July 2019

Speaker: Professor Keith Townsend, Griffith University, Australia

Time: 1-2pm

Location: Strathclyde Business School, Cathedral Wing, CW406a

Scholarly research on high performance work systems (HPWS) has produced variations - such as high involvement and high commitment - adapting the construct to different contextual and organisational characteristics.  However, some organisations seek high reliability over more typical performance measures. A focus on high reliability cannot be described as adopting a HPWS or its model variants. These reliability-seeking organisations are characterised by complex and interdependent technical and social systems, where outcome of unreliable performance can be disaster or death (Perrow, 1984; Vogus & Rerup, 2017). Despite the critical role of human resources in maintaining high reliability and avoiding crises, research about how HRM systems are - or should be - constructed in these organisations is undeveloped. Furthermore, how should these organisations be managed to ensure the health and wellbeing of their employees? We propose the High Reliability HR framework and define this as a new adaptation of HPWS. In a three-case study of emergency services organisations, we identify consistencies with the practices in the proposed HRHR system, and explore practical and potential implications where inconsistencies exist. We discuss how these points of inconsistency pose a threat to reliable HRM, and hence reliable service provision, in emergency services.  

Published: 18 June 2019