A 2009 perspective of HR practices in Australian mining

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore the idea of how HR professionals undertake strategic, management and operational roles in mining organisations during varying economic cycles. The discussion is primarily set in the Western Australian context. Design/Methodology/Approach - A review o...

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Main Authors: Dickie, Carolyn, Dwyer, J.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Emerald Group Publishing 2011
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/17739
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author Dickie, Carolyn
Dwyer, J.
author_facet Dickie, Carolyn
Dwyer, J.
author_sort Dickie, Carolyn
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore the idea of how HR professionals undertake strategic, management and operational roles in mining organisations during varying economic cycles. The discussion is primarily set in the Western Australian context. Design/Methodology/Approach - A review of the relevant literature, an overview of mining industry trends in Australia and an examination of HR issues in the mining industry, provide the background for developing a case for a strategic approach using HR practices to address challenges. Findings - A 5-point model for effective delivery of HR in the mining industry is proposed as a means of overcoming environmental discontinuities. Research limitations/implications - Whilst an extensive list of research in the mining industry, is not cited, given that the mining industry tends to operate globally and HR departments source and deploy professional staff on a global basis, the implications for future research are more extensive than limiting. Practical implications - Contrary to many current practices used in mining organisations, suggestions are made regarding specific approaches that can be promulgated to change HR policies and procedures to assist overcoming, or mitigating, bust cycle issues in the industry. Originality/value - Mining companies need a well organised plan if they are to balance out the extremes of the industry's boom/bust cycles. The model in this paper, establishing strategic implementation strategies for HR policies and procedures, provides a direct approach to business improvement and a direct link between corporate and mine-site HR issues.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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publishDate 2011
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-177392017-09-13T15:58:24Z A 2009 perspective of HR practices in Australian mining Dickie, Carolyn Dwyer, J. HR implementation HR objectives Mining strategy HR accountability Western Australia Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore the idea of how HR professionals undertake strategic, management and operational roles in mining organisations during varying economic cycles. The discussion is primarily set in the Western Australian context. Design/Methodology/Approach - A review of the relevant literature, an overview of mining industry trends in Australia and an examination of HR issues in the mining industry, provide the background for developing a case for a strategic approach using HR practices to address challenges. Findings - A 5-point model for effective delivery of HR in the mining industry is proposed as a means of overcoming environmental discontinuities. Research limitations/implications - Whilst an extensive list of research in the mining industry, is not cited, given that the mining industry tends to operate globally and HR departments source and deploy professional staff on a global basis, the implications for future research are more extensive than limiting. Practical implications - Contrary to many current practices used in mining organisations, suggestions are made regarding specific approaches that can be promulgated to change HR policies and procedures to assist overcoming, or mitigating, bust cycle issues in the industry. Originality/value - Mining companies need a well organised plan if they are to balance out the extremes of the industry's boom/bust cycles. The model in this paper, establishing strategic implementation strategies for HR policies and procedures, provides a direct approach to business improvement and a direct link between corporate and mine-site HR issues. 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/17739 10.1108/02621711111126819 Emerald Group Publishing fulltext
spellingShingle HR implementation
HR objectives
Mining strategy
HR accountability
Western Australia
Dickie, Carolyn
Dwyer, J.
A 2009 perspective of HR practices in Australian mining
title A 2009 perspective of HR practices in Australian mining
title_full A 2009 perspective of HR practices in Australian mining
title_fullStr A 2009 perspective of HR practices in Australian mining
title_full_unstemmed A 2009 perspective of HR practices in Australian mining
title_short A 2009 perspective of HR practices in Australian mining
title_sort 2009 perspective of hr practices in australian mining
topic HR implementation
HR objectives
Mining strategy
HR accountability
Western Australia
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/17739