Human Resources as a Strategic Partner in Multiunit-Restaurants

A strategic approach to human-resources management is warranted as part of a firm's overall strategic planning. In this study, however, the researchers found that both unit managers and human-resources managers themselves see human-resources managers as having an impact only on issues directly related to employees. As a result, chain-restaurant organizations are missing important competitive opportunities that would otherwise be available if human-resources managers were viewed as strategic partners. To establish the human-resources department as a strategic partner, top management should involve human-resources managers in other functional areas' planning decisions and train human resources managers in marketing, finance, and so on. Finally, the career path to human resources should go through operations.