Workgroup 1
OB
Individual Assignment: Review paper West et al. (2006)
While HRM and performance studies in the private sector often operationalize organisational
performance in terms of profit or other financial indicators, different outcomes might be
more relevant for the health care sector, such as quality and safety. One of the first studies
that aimed to link HRM and safety and quality outcomes in health care is the 2002 article of
Michael West and colleagues. While they find a positive relationship between HR practices
and patient mortality, their study was also heavily criticized. Therefore, West and colleagues
wrote an additional paper in 2006. The aim of this workgroup is to take a closer look at the
article by West et al. (2006).
To fix reverse causality, do a longitudinal study for more points of measurement. A cross-
sectional study with one measurement is not enough to see if there is causality.
Preparation before attending the workgroup:
1. Summarize the article in your own words (aim, hypotheses, methods, findings and
discussion) and describe the shortfalls of this study.
In this paper, they attempt to research the relationship between HRM practices and the
effectiveness of patient care in hospitals.
Their sample existed of 52 hospitals in England. Here they looked at the variables high
performance HRM policies/practices and standardized patient mortality rates. After
controlling for prior mortality and other potential confounders, a greater use of HRM
practices has a significant relationship with patient mortality. By saying this they are implying
that if the hospital had a focus on HRM practices, and elaborate HRM practices, they had less
patient mortality in hospitals.
They checked for representativeness. They did an OLS regression on their variables with all
significant results.
2. Discuss the relationship between HRM and performance within the article and how can this
be placed in the literature?
Organisations which had a high performance HR system, were more likely to have beneficial
effects on patient care because they encourage effective skill development, effective role
performance, citizenship, coordination, decision-making and information processing.
High performance system/organization leads to better (health) outcomes.
They build upon and extend previous work on strategic human resource management in order
to examine the influence of a bundle/system of HR policies and practices on an important
organization-lvl hc outcome: patient mortality in acute hospitals in England.
They review relevant lit and theory, and then add on by extending on it. Relative little research
has been done of HRM in HC settings. So it’s kinda neglect spotting – under-
researched/overlooked area.
1
OB
Individual Assignment: Review paper West et al. (2006)
While HRM and performance studies in the private sector often operationalize organisational
performance in terms of profit or other financial indicators, different outcomes might be
more relevant for the health care sector, such as quality and safety. One of the first studies
that aimed to link HRM and safety and quality outcomes in health care is the 2002 article of
Michael West and colleagues. While they find a positive relationship between HR practices
and patient mortality, their study was also heavily criticized. Therefore, West and colleagues
wrote an additional paper in 2006. The aim of this workgroup is to take a closer look at the
article by West et al. (2006).
To fix reverse causality, do a longitudinal study for more points of measurement. A cross-
sectional study with one measurement is not enough to see if there is causality.
Preparation before attending the workgroup:
1. Summarize the article in your own words (aim, hypotheses, methods, findings and
discussion) and describe the shortfalls of this study.
In this paper, they attempt to research the relationship between HRM practices and the
effectiveness of patient care in hospitals.
Their sample existed of 52 hospitals in England. Here they looked at the variables high
performance HRM policies/practices and standardized patient mortality rates. After
controlling for prior mortality and other potential confounders, a greater use of HRM
practices has a significant relationship with patient mortality. By saying this they are implying
that if the hospital had a focus on HRM practices, and elaborate HRM practices, they had less
patient mortality in hospitals.
They checked for representativeness. They did an OLS regression on their variables with all
significant results.
2. Discuss the relationship between HRM and performance within the article and how can this
be placed in the literature?
Organisations which had a high performance HR system, were more likely to have beneficial
effects on patient care because they encourage effective skill development, effective role
performance, citizenship, coordination, decision-making and information processing.
High performance system/organization leads to better (health) outcomes.
They build upon and extend previous work on strategic human resource management in order
to examine the influence of a bundle/system of HR policies and practices on an important
organization-lvl hc outcome: patient mortality in acute hospitals in England.
They review relevant lit and theory, and then add on by extending on it. Relative little research
has been done of HRM in HC settings. So it’s kinda neglect spotting – under-
researched/overlooked area.
1
