Connecting HRM and Change Management

What is it about?

Organizations are continuously under pressure to change. To be able to do this, they need employees who have energy and are proactive. Vital employees have more energy, and when they are also proactive, they anticipate future events and take initiative. However, it is unclear how organizations can make employees more vital and proactive. Based on a large survey, we show that Human Resource Management (HRM) can be of substantial help. Organizations should especially focus on three HRM-tools: give employees 1) high autonomy in their work, 2) provide them with participation in decision making and 3) stimulate high quality teamwork. By doing this, organizations can increase vitality and proactivity of their employees. This may make organizations better able to cope with change.

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Why is it important?

This study is important as organizations need employees who are capable of helping organizational change. Furthermore, this study is one of the first to empirically connect HRM to change management. When doing this, it uses new concepts derived from positive psychology (job proactivity and vitality) to show how HRM can be beneficial for organizational change.