1 The Adoption of a National Human Resource Development Standard: The Role of Internal and ...

287 Pages·2016·2.73 MB·English

The Adoption of a National Human Resource Development Standard: The Role of
Internal and External Pressures

Aileen Carmel Murphy B.Ed. (Hons) M.Sc.

Thesis submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
University of Limerick

Research Supervisor: Professor Thomas Garavan

Submitted to the University of Limerick May 2016
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Declaration
I declare that this thesis represents my own work.
_________________________________________
Aileen Murphy

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Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the following people:
My supervisor Professor Thomas Garavan for his insight, guidance and encouragement
throughout the process
Dr. Richard Hayes, Head of School of Humanities and Mr. Ray Cullen, Head of
Department of Languages, Tourism and Hospitality for their support
Mr. J.J. Casey for his assistance with the statistical analysis
Mr. Tony Dunbar from Foras Áiseanna Saothair
Mr. Fergal O’Byrne, Ms. Michelle Browne and Ms. Patricia Whelan from the National
Standards Authority of Ireland
I would like to acknowledge the support of my family and friends throughout

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Dedication
In memory of my parents Evelyn and Daniel who gave me such strong foundations
My husband Jim for his love and understanding
My children Evelyn and James who are a source of joy and inspiration

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Abstract
This study investigates the internal and external pressures which explain the adoption or
non-adoption of the Irish human resource development standard among organisations.
National governments use a variety of strategies and policy measures to encourage
organisations and individuals to invest in human capital. A National human resource
development standard (NHRD) is one such measure. This research moves beyond the
dominant view in the literature that organisations adopt practices for rational reasons.
This is the first study to utilise institutional theory to explain the adoption of a NHRD
standard. Organisations that had adopted the Irish NHRD standard and non-adopter
organisations were surveyed. The results of the logistic regression analysis show that
there are some notable differences between adopter and non adopter organisations. This
study makes some important contributions as it offers empirical evidence that some
relationships between adoption of a NHRD standard and independent variables do exist.
The research model and associated hypotheses advances the theoretical understandings
of the internal and external pressures which explain the adoption of a NHRD standard.
The results provide a new means of understanding organisations’ responses to the
internal and external pressures in the adoption of a NHRD standard.This study adds to a
currently sparse literature on the adoption of a NHRD standard.

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Illustrations
Tables
2.1 Comparison of HR and related standards...............................................37
2.2 Cumulative number of adoptions of ETP 1996–2005............................50
2.3 Number of new adoptions of ETP 2006–2013.......................................50
2.4 Evaluation of adoption rationales...........................................................76
3.1 Ontology, epistemology, methodology and methods.............................99
3.2 Philosophical assumptions of positivism..............................................100
3.3 A Comparison of nomothetic and ideographic research methods – a
continuum.............................................................................................101
3.4 Positivist principles and interpretivist principles.................................103
3.5 Hypotheses and measures table............................................................111
4.1 Sample characteristics..........................................................................126
4.2 Inter-correlation analysis......................................................................132
4.3 Logistic regression: Explaining the adoption of Excellence Through
People...................................................................................................136
5.1 Key findings

Figures
2.1 Research model......................................................................................83
Appendix B1 Singapore Business Excellence Framework.........................................225
Appendix B2 Singapore Business Excellence Certifications and Award...................226

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Abbreviations
ANSI American National Standards Institute
BEMs Business Excellence Models
BSI British Standards Institute
CIPD Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
CSR Corporate Social Responsibility
EFQM European Foundation for Quality Management
ETBs Education and Training Boards
ETP Excellence Through People
FÁS Foras Áiseanna Saothair
FDA Food and Drug Administration
FDI Foreign direct investment
FET Further Education and Training
HPWPs High Performance Work Practices
HR Human Resources
HRD Human Resources Development
HRM Human Resources Management
HRPA Human Resources Policy Association
IBEC Irish Business and Employers Confederation’
ICT Information and communication technology
IDA Industrial Development Authority
IFRS International Financial Reporting Standards
IIP Investors in People
IIPUK Investors in People UK
IITD Irish Institute of Training and Development
ISO International Organisation for Standardisation
LECs Local Enterprise Companies (Scotland)
LSCs Learning and Skills Councils
MNCs Multi-national corporations
NHRD National Human Resource Development
NHRDS National Human Resource Development Standards
PD People Developer
PE People Excellence
SABPP South African Board for People Practices
SAI Social Accountability International
SHRM Strategic Human Resource Management
SMEs small to medium-sized enterprises
SOLAS An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna
SQA Singapore Quality Award
SQC Singapore Quality Class
T&EA Training and Employment Agency Ireland
TECs Training and Enterprise Councils
TQM Total Quality Management
VECs Vocational Educational Committees
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Contents
Abstract .................................................................................................................................. iv
Illustrations ............................................................................................................................. v
Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................... vi
Chapter 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Study Context ....................................................................................................................... 1
1.2.1 The Irish Context ........................................................................................................... 2
1.2.2 Global Context .............................................................................................................. 5
1.3 Definition of Standards ........................................................................................................ 7
1.3.1 National and International HRM and HRD Standards ................................................... 8
1.4 Research Question and Rationale ........................................................................................ 9
1.5 Thesis Structure ................................................................................................................. 14
1.5 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 16
Chapter 2 Literature Review ..................................................................................................... 17
2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 17
2.2 Global Trend Towards Increased Standardisation of Organisational Practices ................. 19
2.3 Types of Standards ............................................................................................................. 23
2.4 National and International HRM and HRD Standards ........................................................ 29
2.5 Effectiveness of NHRD Standards ...................................................................................... 30
2.6 Adoption and Diffusion of NHRD Standards ...................................................................... 44
2.6.1 Adoption of ETP .......................................................................................................... 48
2.7 Rationales for Adoption of HR Standards .......................................................................... 51
2.7.1 The Rational Rationale ................................................................................................ 51
2.7.2 The Strategic Choice Rationale ................................................................................... 54
2.7.3 The Psychodynamic Rationale .................................................................................... 57
2.7.4 The Cultural Rationale ................................................................................................. 59
2.7.5 The Political Rationale ................................................................................................. 63
2.7.6 The Dramaturgical (Rhetorical) Rationale ................................................................... 65
2.7.7 The Institutional Rationale .......................................................................................... 67
2.7.8 Evaluation of Adoption Rationales .............................................................................. 80
2.8 Research Model ................................................................................................................. 81
2.8.1 Internal Business Factors Influencing the Adoption of a NHRD Standard .................. 84
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2.8.2 External Factors Influencing the Adoption of a NHRD Standard ................................ 89
2.9 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 95
Chapter 3 Study Methodology .................................................................................................. 97
3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 97
3.2 The Study Context .............................................................................................................. 97
3.2.1 Research Question and Rationale ............................................................................... 98
3.4 Approaches to Research .................................................................................................... 99
3.5 Methodological Approach ............................................................................................... 100
3.6 The Research Instrument ................................................................................................. 103
3.7 Measures .......................................................................................................................... 105
3.7.1 Control Variables ....................................................................................................... 105
3.7.2 External Factors and Adoption .................................................................................. 105
3.7.3 Internal Business Factors and Adoption ................................................................... 108
3.8 The Study Sample ............................................................................................................. 118
3.9 Fieldwork .......................................................................................................................... 118
3.10 Data Analysis .................................................................................................................. 119
3.11 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 121
Chapter 4 Findings .................................................................................................................. 123
4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 123
4.2 Sample Characteristics ..................................................................................................... 123
4.3 Inter-correlation Analysis ................................................................................................. 129
4.4 Hypothesis Testing ........................................................................................................... 133
4.5 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 136
Chapter 5 Discussion Chapter ................................................................................................. 137
5.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 137
5.2 Contribution of this Study ................................................................................................ 137
5.3 Key Contributions ............................................................................................................. 140
5.7 Study Limitations ............................................................................................................. 155
5.8 Recommendations for Future Research .......................................................................... 156
5.9 Implications for Practice .................................................................................................. 161
5.10 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................... 162
References ................................................................................................................................. 163
Appendices ................................................................................................................................. 197
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Appendix A: The Emergence of HR Standards ....................................................................... 197
Appendix B: Singapore Business Excellence Framework ....................................................... 223
Appendix C: Original Excellence Through People Standard ................................................... 225
Appendix D: 2004 Revision of Excellence Through People Standard .................................... 233
Appendix E: Excellence Through People 1000:2012 .............................................................. 243
Appendix F: Adopter Questionnaire ...................................................................................... 255
Appendix G: Nonadopter Questionnaire ............................................................................... 266
Appendix H: Cover email to respondents .............................................................................. 277

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