The alignment of HR management actions to achieve strategic organizational goals: The impact of vertical and horizontal alignment

Abstract

Purpose

The review is based on “Testing horizontal and vertical alignment of human resource (HR) practices designed to achieve strategic organizational goals”, by Martinson and De Leon, (2018), published in Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This research paper concentrates on the alignment of HR goals and objectives with the strategic objectives of the organization (vertical alignment) and how the HR goals and objectives align with each other (horizontal alignment).

Findings

The results suggest that aligning HR management practices (HRMP) with organizational strategic goals does increase the probability of achieving these objectives. In addition, aligning HRMP with each other further strengthens the likelihood of achieving the strategic goals.

Practical implications

Therefore, for organizations to optimize performance and gain a competitive advantage through protecting their investment in human capital and decreasing voluntary turnover, both vertical and horizontal alignment should be implemented.

Originality/value

This paper has an original approach by providing a unique empirical examination of an organization’s implementation of HR practices designed to achieve stated strategic objectives through a large-scale study.

Citation

(2019), "The alignment of HR management actions to achieve strategic organizational goals: The impact of vertical and horizontal alignment", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 27 No. 4, pp. 1-3. https://doi.org/10.1108/HRMID-03-2019-0074