Short Introduction to Strategic Human Resource Management
Cambridge Short Introductions to Management Series

This Short Introduction to Strategic Human Resource Management provides a concise treatment of the key elements of strategic HRM using an innovative risk-management approach. It emphasizes the importance of the decisions, processes and choices organizations make about managing people and shows how workforce management directly affects strategic organizational outcomes. It provides guidance for managers on how to make better human capital decisions in order to achieve strategic success more effectively. Reflecting an increasing uncertainty in global business, Cascio and Boudreau consider ways of dealing with risk in managing human capital. Numerous examples in every chapter illustrate key points with real business cases from around the world.

1. What is strategy?; 2. The external environment; 3. HR strategy in context: environmental, organizational, and functional elements; 4. HR strategy through a risk-optimization framework; 5. HR strategy: linkages, anchor points, and outcomes; 6. HR strategy: communication and engagement; 7. Outcomes of successful business and HR strategies; 8. Future forces and trends driving HR strategy.

Wayne F. Cascio is the Robert H. Reynolds Distinguished Chair in Global Leadership at the University of Colorado, Denver. His work is featured regularly in business media, including The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Time, The New York Times, National Public Radio and the Harvard Business Review, among others.
John W. Boudreau is Professor of Management and Organization and is Research Director at the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business and Center for Effective Organizations.