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Line Managers Essay

Decent Essays

line managers have a lack of desire to implement HRM. However, willingness is essential for someone to perform effectively. Furthermore, line managers do not have capacity to implement HRM, since they have other, more pressing, short term operational responsibilities. This short-range focus may result in people management that is generally less effective. Besides, line managers have limited skills and competences in HRM due to a lack of training. It is suggested that these low competences are a significant constrain on the effective devolution of HRM responsibilities to line managers. Line managers are also hindered by a lack of support from the HR department and it is argued that line managers cannot perform their HR tasks effectively …show more content…

“This short-range focus may result in people management that is fragmented, inconsistent and generally less effective” (Perry & Kulik, 2008, p. 263). To implement HRM practices effectively, it is important that line managers have sufficient capacity to implement HRM practices besides their (dominating) operational responsibilities
A very important reason for line managers’ capacity problems in implementing HRM is managerial short-termism. “Line managers report frustration that they are not able to devote sufficient time to HR issues, because operational tasks tend to dominate” (Whittaker & Marchington, 2003, p. 250). The pressure of operational tasks and the increasing HR responsibilities put excessive demands on line managers’ time and energy and might result in role overload for line managers (McConville, 2006). Line managers’ role overload is measured with a scale developed by Reilly (1982) on the role overload of housewives. Role overload of housewives occurs when the sheer volume of behaviour demanded of the wife exceeds her available time and energy. Nehles (2006) argues that line managers face a similar kind of role overload as housewives, but with different conflicting demands; operational tasks versus HRM responsibilities. The items on the housewife’ scale were translated into time demands for line managers. For example, the original

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