HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN THE KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY
By Mark L. Lengnick-Hall and Cynthia A. Lengnick-Hall

The central theme of this book is that human resources must assume new roles to enable organizations to compete successfully in the knowledge economy. The thrust of the new roles is a more strategic focus on managing human capital and institutional knowledge and a shift in the HR paradigm from functions and processes to outcomes and accomplishments. The four roles are: human capital steward, knowledge facilitator, relationship builder, and rapid deployment specialist. The linking pin is a focus on people as a dominant source of competitive advantage.

The Lengnick-Halls are both professors at the University of Texas, San Antonio. So it is no surprise that the book reads much like a textbook and would be an ideal tool for any course that focuses on the future of our profession or on the strategic role of human resources. The authors provide good examples from progressive organizations (such as Southwest Airlines, Cisco, and Ritz-Carlton Hotels) and practical suggestions to show how the four roles operate in the real world. The book drags occasionally as the authors deviate from the main discussion to document references and to substantiate their research findings. The main theme is excellent, however, and provides a roadmap for the human resource professional who seeks fresh solutions for today’s new challenges. Human Resources Management in the Knowledge Economy is published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers and is available on-line from the SHRM bookstore.

(Submitted by Nancy Streeter, April 2003)

Additional Reviews:

- HR From The Heart