Article Abstract:
The outcome of the presidential election in Nov. 1996 is expected to have a significant impact on human resources (HR) management. HR practitioners should therefore pay attention to each presidential candidate's position on the issue of workforce development. Both Pres. Bill Clinton and his Republican opponent Bob Dole have strong opinions on how to best deal with the problem of declining employees skills. However, their views conflict when it comes to the issue of the extent to which federal government should be involved in employee training and education. Although there is no clear consensus, it appears that Pres. Clinton may provide more support for the HR agenda. He supports government involvement in workforce development, but also believes that individuals have to take responsibility for their own education. Dole, on the other hand, believes that the federal government should withdraw totally from the fields of education and training.
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Article Abstract:
American HR professionals have a number of lessons to learn from their foreign peers. Although HR practitioners in the US are experts in HR development, pay-for-performance compensation package, reengineering and the concept of the learning organization, there are some points on which their counterparts abroad perform better. One of these is employee empowerment. In Japan and Europe, business decisions are rarely made without first soliciting suggestions from the workforce. It is also noted that Asian companies tend to be more entrepreneurial and that HR managers in foreign corporations are more willing to share information than US HR managers. Continuous learning is more valued in the Middle East and Asia. Personal lives are more respected in foreign companies than in the US. HR professionals should be aware that not all of these are necessarily suitable to US conditions and that some of them may even be disadvantageous.
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Article Abstract:
Employees set to be assigned overseas should be given cross-cultural training so that they will be able to deal with the difficulties associated with living and working in another country. Potential problems include family lifestyle adjustment, social relations, on-the-job-communication, and negotiation styles. Organizational support for international employees can improve the success rate of these expatriates. With personnel who are equipped to deal with global issues, companies can better cope with the increasing globalization of the business world.
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