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Human resource management of rural electric utilities: The impact of high-performance work practices
Abstract
Organizations today are continually seeking ways to obtain competitive advantage. Although technological advances have received most of the attention, Human Resource Management (HRM) has recently emerged as an important element in the strategy to gain a sustained advantage. In particular, comprehensive research has recently demonstrated a strong positive relationship between a system of HRM called "High Performance Work Practices" and performance indicators of publicly held organizations. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of High Performance Work Practices on the performance of distribution utilities in the rural electric industry. This study uses the body of knowledge obtained in the private sector as a foundation and point of departure for examining the relationship between High Performance Work Practices and performance outcomes in the rapidly changing not-for-profit rural electric industry. Data were gathered from 110 rural electric distribution utilities throughout the United States. Controlling for region, size, and consumer type, the hierarchical regression technique was used to analyze the relationship between the identified system of High Performance Work Practices and various archivally derived performance indicators. In addition to this major thrust of the study, a factor analysis was conducted in order to divide the very comprehensive traditionally defined categories of High Performance Work Practices into more operational and manageable human resources practices. Both the regression analysis and the factor analysis yielded significant findings. Replicating the earlier work in the private sector, this study found a system of High Performance Work Practices to be positively related to "hard measures" of productivity and efficiency. In addition, a unique factor structure of knowledge/information, procedural justice, and rewards were found from the factor analysis and can be used to represent the overall system of High Performance Work Practices. The findings from this study can contribute important insights into the role that HRM can play in the important challenges facing the dynamically changing rural electric industry in particular and non-profit organizations in general.
Subject Area
Management
Recommended Citation
Luthans, Kyle William, "Human resource management of rural electric utilities: The impact of high-performance work practices" (1997). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9734624.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9734624