Effective In-House Personnel Research Units: Findings from Six U.K. Case Studies

Abstract

More needs to be known about the conditions under which in-house personnel research units make an impact on organizational problem-solving processes. This article attempts to identify the key variables by using a common framework to study six diverse units. A model is presented to highlight the main findings, and suggestions are made as to how a more quantitative study could operationalize the variables in the model.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Appleby, B. 1972 'Applied social scientists in industry: expectations and dimensions of their role' in Papers on social science utilisation . Loughborough: Centre for the Utilisation of Social Science Research.

Berry, Dean 1967 The politics of personnel research. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan.

Challis, Linda 1972 'Utilisation and the survey: a case of social science research in a giant organisation' in Papers on social science utilisation . Loughborough: Centre for the Utilisation of Social Science Research.

Cherns, Albert 1979 Using the social sciences. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

Ferguson, L.L. 1964 'Social scientists in the plant'. Harvard Business Review 42:133-143.

Glaser, Barney and Anselm Strauss 1968 The discovery of grounded theory. Chicago: Aldine.

Klein, Lisl 1976 A social scientist in industry. Epping: Gower.

Legge, Karen 1978 Power, innovation and problem solving in personnel management. London : McGraw-Hill .

Rothman, Jack 1980 Using research in organisations: a guide to successful application. London : Sage .

10.

Steers, Richard 1977 Organisational effectiveness. Santa Monica: Goodyear.

11.

Van de Vall, M. , C. Boles , and T. Kang 1976 'Applied social research in industrial organisations: an evaluation of functions, theory and methods'. Journal of Applied Behavioural Science 12:158-177.

12.

Williams, Allan 1983 'Personnel research and organisational decision making' in Using personnel research. A. Williams (ed.). Alder-shot : Gower.

13.

Williams, Allan , and Rosalie Silverstone 1981 'The structure and function of in-house research units and conditions enhancing their effectiveness' . London : City University Business School Working Paper No. 25.