A summary of the CIPD Research Report
This research report, written by Professor Paul Sparrow of Lancaster University Management School, is one of three key pieces of research into aspects of International HRM. It is available to purchase online – please visit our bookstore for more information and to find out how to order.
This research report is important because it focuses on changes in resourcing issues which many firms, not just those working internationally, are now facing. As a consequence, their HR professionals are confronting very different international recruitment, selection and assessment issues as they pick up the challenge of the rapidly expanding global labour market. In this context the research looks at the increase in mobility of all different types of international employees, not just traditional overseas assignees. As well as looking at resourcing roles for overseas operations, the report looks at bringing talent from abroad to work in the home market. The rapid expansion of blurred labour markets means that HR people need to adapt rapidly to cope with increasingly complex demands. Skills shortages in the home-grown market means that certain sectors are looking outside the UK to fill posts. Other international companies are looking to scale up very rapidly overseas, to shift resources and develop talent in unknown markets.
Given these complexities, the research looks at some of the related issues, such as:
- types of international employee and their required competencies
- international migration and the impact on recruitment
- changes in immigration policy and visa arrangements
- international recruitment for employment in home markets
- resourcing Specialist skills for use in home and overseas markets
- shared services and global recruitment
- recruitment in the context of an internationalisation strategy
- mechanisms for global consistency in recruitment, selection and assessment
- global capability systems
- international management development
- devolving responsibility for international recruitment
- employer branding and international recruitment
- local selection and assessment issues.
Issues relating to these topics are illustrated by case study examples from the South East London Strategic Health Authority, BBC World Service, Barclaycard International and Save the Children UK. In addition to this in-depth research, the report also pulls together other recent research, academic literature and accounts of practice. There is also a wealth of material in the form of professional opinions, employer surveys and contact details for sources of additional information.
SPARROW, P. (2006) International Recruitment, Selection and Assessment. Research report. London:CIPD