HRM - PRESCRIPTION, DESCRIPTION AND CONCEPT

Explores the burgeoning literature on HRM with the aim of assessing its distinctiveness in terms of the arguments expounded by Guest in 1989 in his article ''Personnel Management and HRM: Can You Tell the Difference?''. Summarizes Guest's article, drawing out his three main approaches; reviews each of the three themes in terms of later contributions to the subject; evaluates the distinctiveness of HRM in relation to the three approaches laid down by Guest; and, finally, raises some issues of discussion and conclusion on the distinctiveness of HRM, its efficiency claims and its effects on the practice of personnel management.