Critical evaluation of a published paper - Assignment Example

Generally the primary aim of the research was to compare the potential impact of bundles of both collaborative and calculative human resource management. The analysis of the impact of the intermediary practices was more of a secondary interest (Gooderham, Parry and Ringdal, 2008, p. 2042). This paper critically evaluates the research design, strategies and methods used in the research article as well as their potential drawbacks to the research. Research design and approach Generally the authors have used a quantitative research method for their empirical study regarding the relationship between human resource management practices and firm performance.

The research design used is primarily based on cross sectional data derived from a recent Cranet survey of human resource management in 16 European countries. The authors collected their data through survey questionnaire which were appropriately translated and mailed to the respective human resource managers of the selected sample national firms in all the countries The resulted suggested that 5/6 of the calculative practices as well as two thirds of the intermediary practices had a significant impact on the performance.

On the other hand, the analysis of the data further revealed that none of the collaborative practices had any impact on human resource management performance. . On the hand, the independent variables used in the research were the various HRM practices that were obtained from a comprehensive literature review by the researchers. These variables were analyzed using SPSS and the results obtained were then used to support the hypothesis of the researchers. Benefits of the research design and approach There are a number of benefits of the research design that the authors used.

For example, while the method use in data collection was too simple it provided the needed information to the researchers. One of the strengths of the research design used is that the literature review has offered a proper basis for the research as it clearly brings out principles and schools of thought that concern the research. For instance the review addresses some of the issues attributed to management system that aims to give the human resource new knowledge, information, motivation that results to a better workforce and commitment (Wright and Snell, 1998, p.764). To validate their findings, the authors have also used a comprehensive literature review in their study.

A well outlined and detailed literature review with a detailed introduction to the research was a very good approach towards undertake of this research. The difference between calculative and intermediary HRM bundles and also collaborative HRM bundles has been well outlined. On the other hand, the method of analysis employed by the researchers included the use control variables that effectively provided a broad macrocontext of operation for the sample firms. Consequently this enabled the researchers to control the differences such as institutional settings and the variation in the economic conditions