Improving Organizational Performance Through HRM-line Partnership: A Case of Higher Education Sector of Pakistan

Abstract

In todays’ knowledge economy, the organizations focus on creating value through their most valuable resources i.e. human resource. For an effective management of human capital, a healthy partnership between HRM function and the line managers (heads of other departments/sections) is essential. Such type of partnership can augment the strategic success at different levels of organization. The main focus of this study is to evaluate how the partnership of line managers and HR managers in managing different HRM activities help a firm to achieve competitive advantage. The data was collected through the departments/section heads of public sector universities of Pakistan. The results indicate that when line managers actively participate in managing the HRM function of an organization, it yielded improved organizational outcomes. Therefore, the results of this study have an important implication for the managers of higher education institutes to devise mechanism to involve the line managers in managing HRM activities and thereby achieve higher performance outcomes in higher education sector of Pakistan.