Human resource innovation or another iron cage? The ethical line(s) between high performance work systems and abusive supervision

This chapter explores the potential of a darker side to high performance work systems (HPWS) their influence on abusive supervision and aggressive or abusive work climates. Research on HPWS stemmed from the strategic human resource management (SHRM) approach, which seeks to investigate the fit between human resource (HR) practices and firm strategy as well as the impact of HR practices on firm performance. The SHRM approach conceptualizes human capital as a source of competitive advantage and suggests HR practices have the most direct impact on human capital. Thus, one of the interests of SHRM research has been to understand how human resource practices can be utilized to maximize the productivity and enhance the creativity of employees. The chapter focuses on features like empowerment, autonomy, participation, decentralization, and interpersonal interaction because the effective implementation of these HR practices requires specific characteristics of the organizational structure, and organizational structure has implications for both positive and negative employee behaviors.