HR ambidexterity and absorptive capacities

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Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
Date
2021-11-01
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Language
en
Pages
Series
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Abstract
This article examines the relationship between the capabilities of HR departments and the level of adoption of corporate HRM practices in MNC subsidiaries. To explain this relationship, we leverage paradox theorizing, still rare but gaining increasing attention in HRM research, and integrate the studies of practice transfer, organizational ambidexterity, and absorptive capacity. First, we establish the conceptual linkages between the implementation and internalization dimensions of practice adoption and the potential and realized absorptive capacities of HR departments. Second, we re-define the operational and strategic activities of HR departments in terms of the learning paradox of exploitation and exploration. Third, we introduce the concept of HR ambidexterity to describe HR departments that possess high levels of capabilities in both operational (exploitative) and strategic (explorative) task-domains. Finally, we hypothesize that ambidextrous HR departments are more adept at adopting corporate HRM practices. An analysis of the survey data from 105 foreign subsidiaries of 12 MNCs supports this single hypothesis. The main contribution of this research is in leveraging paradox theorizing to explain the nature of HRM capabilities and their role in the adoption of HRM practices.
Description
doi: 10.1002/hrm.22039
Keywords
international HRM, knowledge transfer, strategic HR
Other note
Citation
Beletskiy , A & Fey , C F 2021 , ' HR ambidexterity and absorptive capacities : A paradox-based approach to HRM capabilities and practice adoption in MNC subsidiaries ' , HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT , vol. 60 , no. 6 , pp. 863-883 . https://doi.org/10.1002/hrm.22039