The elusiveness of strategic HR partnering: Using paradox theory to understand tensions surrounding the HR business partnering role

Hadyn Bennett; Martin McCracken; Paula O’Kane; Travor Brown

doi:10.1111/1748-8583.12538

The elusiveness of strategic HR partnering: Using paradox theory to understand tensions surrounding the HR business partnering role

Hadyn Bennett, Martin McCracken, Paula O’Kane, Travor Brown

Ulster University Business School

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

24 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Human resource business partnering is an established mechanism for the advancement of strategic HR. While much research has reported on relationships between partners (HRBPs) and line managers, relationships between partners and other aspects of the HR function are less well understood, as is the interplay between HRBP‐LMP and HRBP‐HR relationships. Through the use of paradox theory and case study methodology centred on a large public sector health care authority, we found these two sets of relationships to be operating paradoxically within an operational frame of reference, thereby constraining the establishment of strategic partnering.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-18
Number of pages	18
Journal	Human Resource Management Journal
Early online date	17 Nov 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12538
Publication status	Published online - 17 Nov 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors. Human Resource Management Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Keywords

HR business partners
HR professional
HR function
line manager
business partner
qualitative data
paradox theory

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1111/1748-8583.12538

1748-8583.12538.pdfFinal published version, 1.33 MBLicence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

@article{6428b241d539456ab83d422564f7c929,

title = "The elusiveness of strategic HR partnering: Using paradox theory to understand tensions surrounding the HR business partnering role",

abstract = "Human resource business partnering is an established mechanism for the advancement of strategic HR. While much research has reported on relationships between partners (HRBPs) and line managers, relationships between partners and other aspects of the HR function are less well understood, as is the interplay between HRBP‐LMP and HRBP‐HR relationships. Through the use of paradox theory and case study methodology centred on a large public sector health care authority, we found these two sets of relationships to be operating paradoxically within an operational frame of reference, thereby constraining the establishment of strategic partnering.",

keywords = "HR business partners, HR professional, HR function, line manager, business partner, qualitative data, paradox theory",

author = "Hadyn Bennett and Martin McCracken and Paula O{\textquoteright}Kane and Travor Brown",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Authors. Human Resource Management Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.",

year = "2023",

month = nov,

day = "17",

doi = "10.1111/1748-8583.12538",

language = "English",

pages = "1--18",

journal = "Human Resource Management Journal",

issn = "0954-5395",

publisher = "John Wiley & Sons, Inc.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - The elusiveness of strategic HR partnering: Using paradox theory to understand tensions surrounding the HR business partnering role

AU - Bennett, Hadyn

AU - McCracken, Martin

AU - O’Kane, Paula

AU - Brown, Travor

PY - 2023/11/17

Y1 - 2023/11/17

N2 - Human resource business partnering is an established mechanism for the advancement of strategic HR. While much research has reported on relationships between partners (HRBPs) and line managers, relationships between partners and other aspects of the HR function are less well understood, as is the interplay between HRBP‐LMP and HRBP‐HR relationships. Through the use of paradox theory and case study methodology centred on a large public sector health care authority, we found these two sets of relationships to be operating paradoxically within an operational frame of reference, thereby constraining the establishment of strategic partnering.

AB - Human resource business partnering is an established mechanism for the advancement of strategic HR. While much research has reported on relationships between partners (HRBPs) and line managers, relationships between partners and other aspects of the HR function are less well understood, as is the interplay between HRBP‐LMP and HRBP‐HR relationships. Through the use of paradox theory and case study methodology centred on a large public sector health care authority, we found these two sets of relationships to be operating paradoxically within an operational frame of reference, thereby constraining the establishment of strategic partnering.

KW - HR business partners

KW - HR professional

KW - HR function

KW - line manager

KW - business partner

KW - qualitative data

KW - paradox theory

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85176907081&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1111/1748-8583.12538

DO - 10.1111/1748-8583.12538

M3 - Article

SN - 0954-5395

SP - 1

EP - 18

JO - Human Resource Management Journal

JF - Human Resource Management Journal

ER -

The elusiveness of strategic HR partnering: Using paradox theory to understand tensions surrounding the HR business partnering role

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this