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HRM development in post-colonial societies: The challenges of advancing HRM practices in Ghana
Citation
Ayentimi, DT and Burgess, J and Brown, K, HRM development in post-colonial societies: The challenges of advancing HRM practices in Ghana, International Journal of Cross Cultural Management, 18, (2) pp. 125-147. ISSN 1470-5958 (2018) [Refereed Article]
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DOI: doi:10.1177/1470595818765863
Abstract
This article is based on a literature review that integrates history, institutions and culture to
address the following research questions. First, how did human resource management (HRM)
progress during post-colonial Ghana? Second, what factors are likely to undermine the advancement
of HRM practices in Ghana? Finally, what are the implications for HRM practice and theory?
This article identified several factors originating from the economic and socio-cultural system
as driving forces underpinning the advancement of HRM practices in Ghana. Key issues are
(i) Ghanaian cultural beliefs and assumptions; (ii) respect for social status, power and authority;
(iii) the involvement of religious institutions in business activities; (iv) the dominance of small and
medium scale enterprises in the local economy (informal sector); (v) education, skills development
and training mismatch; and (vi) lack of HRM professionalization and regulatory body. This article
argues the assimilation of history, institutions and culture connects comparative HRM practices
and post-colonial studies to establish a detailed understanding of persistent colonial institutional
inheritance (legacies) of HRM practices as against HRM practices that signify the effects of
Ghanaian contextual distinctiveness. We conclude that the best practice is building a synergy of
foreign HRM practices alien to Ghana and the culture-sensitive Ghanaian version that produces the
best-fit HRM practices for Ghana.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | HRM, post-colonial societies, recruitment and selection, training and development |
| Research Division: | Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services |
| Research Group: | Business and Management |
| Research Field: | Human Resources Management |
| Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
| Objective Group: | Expanding Knowledge |
| Objective Field: | Expanding Knowledge in Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services |
| Author: | Ayentimi, DT (Dr Desmond Ayentimi) |
| ID Code: | 127642 |
| Year Published: | 2018 |
| Deposited By: | Tasmanian School of Business and Economics |
| Deposited On: | 2018-08-07 |
| Last Modified: | 2018-08-08 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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