Connecting HRM and Change Management: The Importance of Proactivity and Vitality

Journal of Organizational Change Management, Forthcoming

26 Pages Posted: 9 Sep 2014

See all articles by Lars Tummers

Lars Tummers

Utrecht University

Peter Kruyen

Radboud University Nijmegen

Dominique Vijverberg

Stichting IZZ

Tessa Voesenek

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR)

Date Written: 2015

Abstract

Purpose:

Organizations are continuously under pressure to adapt to changing circumstances. Job proactivity and vitality are important in changing environments. For instance, vital employees can better deal with change because they possess more energy. However, it is still unclear how organizations can stimulate proactivity and vitality. This study connects HRM and change management by analyzing how HRM practices can stimulate job proactivity and vitality.

Design:

We used survey data collected in three large public healthcare organizations in the Netherlands (n=1,507) to investigate the effects of five important HRM practices on proactivity and vitality. Analyses were performed using Structural Equation Modeling.

Findings:

Results suggest that three HRM practices are particularly effective for improving proactivity and vitality: 1) high autonomy, 2) high participation in decision-making, and 3) high quality teamwork. Based on these results, we discuss the possibilities of using HRM to improve employees’ abilities to deal with organizational change.

Originality:

This study is one of the first to empirically connect HRM to change management. Furthermore, it uses new concepts derived from positive psychology (job proactivity and vitality) to show how HRM can be beneficial for organizational change.

Keywords: Human Resources Management, HRM, Change Management, Job Proactivity, Vitality, High Performance Work Practices, Positive Psychology

JEL Classification: D73, D78, J2, J28, J58, J68, M12, M00, M12, O20, O32, O30

Suggested Citation

Tummers, Lars and Kruyen, Peter and Vijverberg, Dominique and Voesenek, Tessa, Connecting HRM and Change Management: The Importance of Proactivity and Vitality (2015). Journal of Organizational Change Management, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2493629

Lars Tummers (Contact Author)

Utrecht University ( email )

Vredenburg 138
Utrecht, 3511 BG
Netherlands

Peter Kruyen

Radboud University Nijmegen ( email )

Postbus 9108
Nijmegen, 6500 HK
Netherlands

Dominique Vijverberg

Stichting IZZ ( email )

Apeldoorn
Netherlands

Tessa Voesenek

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) ( email )

Burgemeester Oudlaan 50
3000 DR Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland 3062PA
Netherlands

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