C/HR/34. Total Quality Management (TQM), Human Resource Management (HRM) and the strategy process: does TQM enable HRM to play a more strategic role in the firm?

This paper examines the strategic relationship between Total Quality Management (TQM), Human Resource Management (HRM) and strategy at the corporate, business and functional levels. It does this through four stages: First, it asks the question: What is strategic management and how has our view of it changed over time? The Porterian view of strategy, resource-base view and relational-based view of strategy are considered. Next, the two prominent models of strategic HRM (SHRM) are presented, namely, the §match model and §resource-based model. These are linked to the strategy process and a firms choice to adopt either a proactive or reactive view of HRM and strategy. Third, the characteristics of TQM are examined and the implications for and links with SHRM are outlined. Finally, the paper concludes by highlighting the role SHRM must play in the strategy process if a firm is to successfully implement its TQM initiatives.