Global HRM is a series of books edited and authored by some of the best and most well-known researchers in the field of human resource management. This series is aimed at offering students and practitioners accessible, coordinated and comprehensive books concerning global HRM. To be used individually or together, these books cover the main areas in international and comparative HRM. Taking an expert look at an increasingly important and complex area of global business, this is a ground-breaking new series that answers a real need for useful and affordable textbooks on global HRM.
Several books in the series are devoted to human resource management policies and practices in multinational enterprises. Some books focus on specific areas of global HRM policies and practices, such as global leadership, global compensation, global talent management and global labour relations. Other books address special topics that arise in multinational enterprises, such as managing HR in cross-border alliances, managing global legal systems and the structure of the global HR function. There is also a book of global human resource management cases. Several other books in the series adopt a comparative approach to understanding human resource management. These books on comparative human resource management describe HRM topics found at the country level in selected countries. The comparative books utilize a common framework that makes it easier for the reader to systematically understand the rationale for the similarities and differences in findings across countries.
This book, the second edition of Managing Human Resources in Asia-Pacific, edited by Arup Varma and Pawan S. Budhwar, reflects the comparative human resource management perspective. As in the well-received first edition, the editors have assembled the very best authors to contribute chapters on 13 different countries in the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, the editors have provided an excellent introductory chapter that provides an overview of the book and description of the framework that is used in all the country chapters. In all the chapters the authors also utilize the most recent and relevant research and reflect the experiences of the specific country being described. The editors also contribute an excellent concluding chapter that offers an agenda for future research and policy associated with the HRM challenges in the Asia-Pacific.
The publisher and editor have played a very major role in making this series possible. Routledge has provided its global production, marketing and reputation to make this series feasible and affordable to academics and practitioners throughout the world. In addition, Routledge has provided its own highly qualified professionals to make this series a reality. In particular, we want to indicate our deep appreciation for the work of our series’ editor, John Szilagyi. He has been very supportive of the Global HRM Series and has been invaluable in providing the needed support and encouragement to us and the many authors and editors involved in the series. He, along with Sara Werdon and the entire staff, has helped make the process of completing this series an enjoyable one. For everything they have done, we thank them all. Together we are all very excited about the Global HRM series and hope you find an opportunity to use this second edition of Managing Human Resources in Asia-Pacific – and all of the other books in the series!
Randall S. Schuler, Rutgers University and the Lorange Institute of Business Zürich
Susan E. Jackson, Rutgers University and the Lorange Institute of Business Zürich
Paul Sparrow, Manchester University Management School
Michael Poole, Cardiff University and Editor, International Journal of Human Resource Management
July 2012